'I am ready to go as far as Puigdemont,' says President Torra
In a visit to his predecessor, Catalan chief says he would give up October 2017 independence declaration mandate if Madrid grants binding referendum
President Quim Torra visited his predecessor Carles Puigdemont in Brussels on Wednesday. Speaking to the press alongside him, he said he is "ready to go as far as" the former president to achieve independence. He also insisted that he will only abide by "the people of Catalonia."
He made these remarks when asked whether he was ready to end up facing similar consequences to that of the former Catalan cabinet, including pre-trial prison and exile.
As he held his conference on Wednesday, Torra also called on the Spanish president Pedro Sánchez to accept an agreed referendum on self-determination.
Changing Oct 1 vote for agreed referendum
"We are ready to change the October 1 [referendum mandate] and October 27 [declaration of independence] for a binding referendum," he said.
Torra also urged his counterpart in Madrid to give up "the culture of direct rule," referring to the recent hints by Pedro Sánchez to suspend Catalonia's self-rule if the government breaks the Spanish legal framework.