Catalan Parliament to vote on a response to Madrid takeover

The session will continue into Friday with a declaration of independence back on the table

Catalan MPs at the Parliament (by Pere Francesch)
Catalan MPs at the Parliament (by Pere Francesch) / ACN

ACN | Rachel Bathgate

October 26, 2017 09:44 PM

The Catalan Parliament is to decide on a declaration of independence on Friday while the Spanish Senate votes to strip the Catalan executive of self-rule powers. After an intense day, Catalan president Carles Pugidemont ruled out calling a snap election on Thursday, which would have been read as a sign of de-escalation, after he unsuccessfully tried to get "guarantees" from Madrid that early elections would stop the suspension of Catalonia's self-government. Puigdemont said that it is now up to the chamber majority to decide, thus putting a declaration of independence again on the table.

Tensions were high at the Catalan Parliament on Thursday when the plenary finally took place. The floor ultimately opened for debate at 6pm, following the session being rescheduled several times since being called.

When MPs finally spoke, they often addressed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who himself did not speak in the plenary, directly. While no concrete steps were taken, the plenary session is to continue into Friday October 27.