Catalan cracks appear as Madrid takeover looms
Direct rule to be imposed on Catalonia Possibility of civil disobedience looming
MADRID: Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont is likely to go to Madrid today to explain his position on independence from Spain and try to stop the national government imposing direct control on the region. The timing of Puigdemont’s appearance before the Senate suggests he is now unlikely to formally declare independence or call a snap regional election today, as many analysts had expected. He could still do this tomorrow before the Senate strips him of his powers and imposes direct rule from Madrid.
An appearance at a Senate debate could pit Puigdemont face to face with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy who is vehemently opposed to independence for Catalonia. The political crisis, Spain’s worst since democracy was restored four decades ago, has become increasingly fraught at the prospect of civil disobedience and even confrontation if Madrid goes ahead with taking direct control of Catalonia in the next few days.
Meanwhile, Pro-independence activists took to the streets of Catalonia yesterday as cracks appeared between separatist regional leaders over how best to avoid an impending power takeover by Spain. In a bid to hold Madrid at arm’s length, several members of Carles Puigdemont’s executive have urged him to call elections for a new regional government, a source close to the Catalan leader said.
Other allies, however, are pressuring Puigdemont to follow through on his threat to unilaterally break away the semi-autonomous region that accounts for 16 percent of Spain’s population and 20 percent of its economic output. Civic groups, too, piled on the pressure, organizing a march on the regional parliament yesterday evening to press for an independent Catalan republic. The region of 7.5 million people is fiercely protective of its language and culture and has long struggled for self-determination.
The conflict has caused deep resentment elsewhere in Spain, dented the prosperous region’s economy, and worried other European leaders who see it as fanning separatist sentiment elsewhere on the continent. Secessionists in Catalonia say an independence referendum on Oct 1 which attracted a 43 percent turnout but was mostly boycotted by those Catalans who want to remain in Spain-has given them a mandate for statehood. The Madrid government declared the referendum illegal and has spurned Puigdemont’s calls for dialogue, instead opting to take control of a region which now has a large measure of autonomy.
It has, however, invited Puigdemont to debate in the Senate. “President Puigdemont is willing to attend the Senate to explain the allegations, explain his political position, and explain how we have arrived here,” a lawmaker for PDCat (Catalan Democratic Party) said yesterday. Today would be the most convenient day, he said. However, Puigdemont is unlikely to make much headway against a government which vehemently opposes full independence and is using all its legal and political power to stop it. Tomorrow, the Senate is due to strip him of his powers and impose direct rule, although the actual steps could be taken gradually in order not to inflame the situation.
Rock and a hard place Catalonia said on Monday it was confident its officials, including the police, would defy attempts by Madrid to enforce direct rule. A senior Catalan politician said on Tuesday secessionist leaders may call a snap election to try to break the deadlock. The Catalan parliament will meet today and tomorrow. Some Spanish political and business leaders, along with most Catalan newspapers, have urged Puigdemont to call a regional election before he is stripped of his authority. They say direct rule from Madrid would be a humiliation for Catalonia and pose a serious risk of civil unrest. Calling an election could either strengthen Puigdemont’s mandate if pro-independence parties won, or allow him a graceful exit if they did not. —Agencies