Spanish government considering snap election on April 14
"If [Catalan] leaders are condemned, they have to serve until the last day," says Ciutadans head
The Spanish government is considering calling a snap election in Spain on April 14, according to EFE agency.
This speculation comes only one day after a demonstration in Madrid asking for a snap election and for president Sánchez to step down.
The rally was joined by unionist Ciutadans, the People's Party, and far-right Vox, among others.
They also protested against the dialogue started by the Sánchez' Socialist party with the Catalan government over the Catalonia crisis.
One month before European election
Holding an election on April 14 would mean casting ballots only one and a half months before the local and European election – as well as a regional one in many of the Spanish territories.
Although being in favor of dialogue with the pro-independence forces, Sánchez insisted on Monday that independence is "neither constitutional nor wanted by the majority of Catalans."
"Not sorry for those who committed crime"
Meanwhile, the leader of Ciutadans, Albert Rivera, said he does not want "revenge or impunity, but justice" in the trial against the incarcerated Catalan leaders due to start on Tuesday.
For him, if the officials are condemned, "they have to serve until the last day."
"They should have thought about it before committing the crime," he added. "I do not feel sorry for those who committed a crime, but for the people who suffer from it."
Catalan minister accuses Spain of 'breaking dialogue'
The Catalan government spokesperson, Elsa Artadi, has accused the Spanish government of breaking dialogue, after Madrid ruled out further concessions to pro-independence parties on Friday. "It’s clear who changed their position, and when did they do it," she said.