Catalonia ‘will declare independence next week’
CATALONIA will declare independence from Spain next week, according to a leading Catalan politician speaking at the Plaid Cymru conference.
Josep-Maria Terricabras MEP, of the Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya party, announced the move after speaking to Plaid members in Caernarfon.
The region in Spain held an outlawed referendum earlier in October, where 90% of the 43% who did so in favour of independence.
The vote sparked unrest with police confiscating voting ballots, and some fear similar unrest when the Spanish government activate a constitutional article allowing it to take over running of the region.
Mr Terricabras said: “Very difficult events are happening now. I suppose that next week the Spanish Government will trigger article 155 of the constitution, which is in fact [a] very vague article.
“It doesn’t say exactly what to do, but the Spanish government has a lot of fantasies so it will apply this article on it’s favour so to speak.
“But in the same week, probably next week, the Catalan parliament will declare independence because [the] people decided so.
“Also in the last referendum when over two million went to vote in spite of savage Spanish police beating people in a scandalous way. But people decided independence so we will accomplish the wish of the people. We are democrats who think that it’s much more important the wish of people than the loss on paper.”
Article 155 allows the central government in Madrid to impose direct rule during a crisis, but it has never been used.
Catalan president Carles Puigdemont said previously the region’s parliament would hold a vote on independence if Madrid continued its “repression”.
Mr Terricabras said: “[A] general election for Spain I don’t think so, because it’s not clear who would win probably.
“And Mr Rajoy [Spanish Prime Minister] is happy with support of the socialists and other groups.
“But they menace us with invoking Catalan elections next January but since then we will have declared already that we are independent and we are not going to accept something organised by a foreign country which will be Spain.”
PLAID Cymru leader Leanne Wood announced she intends to lead the party for at least the next five years.
Speaking at the party conference in Caernarfon, Ms Wood quashed any suggestions of a leadership contest ahead of the first elections to a Welsh Parliament in 2021.
The Plaid leader also voiced support for a second referendum following a no-deal Brexit and attacked both governments in the Senedd and Westminster.
Ms Wood said: “The 2021 elections will be the first elections to a new Welsh Parliament.
“The potential and the opportunity that comes with that, is to turn it into an institution that is empowered to address the problems people face in this country, as well as building the resilience to withstand future shocks and threats.
“There will be an opportunity for political change.
“Friends, Plaid Cymru must lead that change. And I intend to lead it, as our candidate for First Minister.”
On the first of a two-day conference, Ms Wood said that the British state has been “plunged into crisis” due to infighting within the Conservative party, and called for a second referendum if Brexit negotiations result in a no-deal.
She acknowledged that the majority of Wales voted to leave the European Union, but said the way EU withdrawal is being carried out is a “threat” to the Welsh economy and constitution and remaining in the single market and customs union is the best scenario for Wales.
Ms Wood said: “If the UK Government does pull all of the nations out of the Single Market, against the wishes of their governments and parliaments, they will trigger a constitutional crisis.
“The Party of Wales has repeatedly said that any deal offered by the UK Government to other UK nations must be made available to Wales.
“If the UK ceases to exist, Wales must have the right to decide our own future in a referendum.
“And if, in the worst possible scenario, we leave the European Union without a deal, people must have the opportunity to reject that disastrous outcome, either through a public vote, or through parliamentary democracy.”
She added that if the Welsh Government does not uphold certain European standards, Plaid Cymru would publish their own Continuity Bill.
Ms Wood said: “And if any West-
minster government wants to take us to court to stop us, then I say to them bring it on.”
Echoing her welcoming statements from last year’s conference, Ms Wood said EU citizens are key to the Welsh economy and demanded they are allowed to stay.
Ms Wood said: “Those valuable citizens who are contributing to our society.
“As living standards have been squeezed and wages have stagnated because of austerity, there has been an interest on the part of some to give the impression that immigrants are to blame.
“There are hard-headed economic reasons why we need people from overseas.
“Citizens from the rest of Europe are likely to generate higher tax revenues than most other groups in society.
“They can fill skills gaps in the private sector and in our public services.”
Ms Wood told the conference that Brexit is not the only challenge facing Wales, and the “disconnect” within the country must be addressed which included improving rail links through a “rail revolution”.
Ms Wood said her party would issue a rail bond to finance electrification “to Swansea and beyond” and look at electrification on the North Wales Coast Line.
Plans to get all new adults educated to a vocational or university level were also announced by Ms Wood and said the party would not increase the cost of higher education for students.
Ms Wood said: “For those young people returning to or staying in Wales after graduation, not only would Plaid Cymru reduce their tuition costs and keep their maintenance support, but we would also create a substantial programme of postgraduate opportunities.”
Both the Conservatives and Labour are unable to Meet the needs of Wales, Ms Wood told the conference, and that her party want Wales to be a “distinct” political entity.
Ms Wood said: “The two establishment parties are not able to meet Wales’ needs.
“The Tories are offering more austerity, and the vague promise of a ‘British dream’.
“And Labour are unable to offer anything other than centralising solutions which have no regard for the specific interests of Wales.”
In an effort to “reconnect” with people in “all communities”, Ms Wood announced she will tour community meetings across the country following the conference.
In her closing remarks Ms Wood said: “The future of Wales depends on this party – Plaid Cymru – stepping forward with the solutions to unite the country in the belief that there is nothing we cannot achieve, together.
“Now is the time to decide what our new Wales could look like – its values, its ambitions, the hopes of its people…
“And so join with me, and let us build that new Wales, together.”