Catalan parties take sides in government letter exchange
Diverse reactions from lawmakers in Catalonia as Spanish and Catalan executives begin war of words in run-up to declaration deadline
Catalonia’s political parties have reacted to the exchange of letters between the Catalan and the Spanish governments in very different ways. While some lawmakers urge Carles Puigdemont’s cabinet to declare independence before the new deadline expires on Thursday, others hint that some officials should be replaced if article 155 of the Spanish Constitution is enforced. This is the provision that allows the central government to seize complete control of any Spanish territory if it “acts in a way that is seriously damaging to the general interest of Spain.”
‘Dignity, coherence, bravery and conviction’ PDeCAT on Puigdemont
The Catalan president’s party, PDeCAT, said that Puigdemont had showed “dignity, coherence, bravery and conviction” in his answer to his Spanish counterpart. Party leader, Marta Pascal, wondered whether “there is anyone on the other side,” as the Spanish government has so far ignored the calls for a meeting between the leaders. PDeCAT is part of Catalonia’s ruling pro-independence coalition, Together for Yes.
Catalan VP’s ironic question to Rajoy
The other major party in the coalition, Esquerra Republicana, also pointed out that Madrid has not answered the proposal to meet. Its leader, and also Catalan vice president, Oriol Junqueras, expressed the same idea in an ironic tweet. “Mr Rajoy: the question is really simple. Do you want a meeting to be held between the Catalan and Spanish governments?” he asked. While Madrid is still pushing to get an answer on whether independence was declared last week, Barcelona is pushing for an answer to this alternative question.