Switzerland will only mediate between Catalonia and Spain “if all the parts explicitly request it”
The Swiss executive will only mediate between Catalonia and Spain “if all the parts explicity request it”. This was the answer of the Swiss government to the question posed by Swiss MPs from several parties whom asked what would be Switzerland’s role regarding Catalonia’s push for independence. “Considering Switzerland’s neutrality and democratic tradition would the Federal Council propose our country’s good manners to ensure mediation between Madrid and Barcelona?” Swiss MPs asked their executive on the 22nd of September. The answer of the Swiss government reflected that “Catalonia’s pro-independence aspirations affect Spain’s internal politics”and therefore “the possibility of a Swiss intervention isn’t planned”. The Catalan Foreign Affairs Secretary, Roger Albinyana, celebrated the Swiss proposition as “it is the first international actor”to highlight the “lack of dialogue”of the Spanish government.
Brussels (CNA).- Switzerland won’t mediate between Catalonia and Spain unless “all the parts explicitly request it”. The Swiss Federal Council stated that “Catalonia’s pro-independence aspirations affect Spain’s internal politics”and therefore “the possibility of a Swiss intervention isn’t planned”. The Catalan Foreign Affairs Secretary, Roger Albinyana, celebrated the Swiss proposition as “it is the first international actor”to highlight the “lack of dialogue”of the Spanish government. The Swiss government’s statements were published on Thursday in a letter in response to Swiss MPs from several parties whom asked their executive what would be Switzerland’s role regarding Catalonia’s push for independence. “Considering Switzerland’s neutrality and democratic tradition would the Federal Council propose our country’s good manners to ensure mediation between Madrid and Barcelona?” Swiss MPs asked the Federal Council on the 22nd of September. The representatives also lamented Spain’s position as it “seems to be doing the opposite of the international procedures expected from democratic countries”.
The Swiss Federal Council stated that it is willing to “discuss the Federal State’s structure, the financial policies or direct democracy with all those States that wish to do so”but emphasised that “Catalonia’s pro-independence aspirations affect Spain’s internal politics”and therefore “the possibility of a Swiss intervention isn’t planned”. These statements were made in a letter sent by the Swiss Federal Council in response to the question of Swiss MPs regarding Switzerland’s role in the relationship between Catalonia and Spain.
The Catalan Foreign Affairs Secretary, Roger Albinyana, celebrated the Swiss proposition as “it is the first international actor”to highlight the “lack of dialogue”of the Spanish government. Although Albinyana assured that the Government isn’t planning to ask Switzerland to mediate, their proposition shows that Catalonia’s push for independence is far from being Spain’s internal political matter. Albinyana also didn’t dismiss the possibility of turning to this or other European institutions, depending on how things develop.
Answer to Swiss MPs question
The Swiss government’s answer referred to a letter sent by Socialist Mathias Reynard, Christian Democrat Yannick Buttet, Conservative Oskar Freysinger, Liberal Green Beat Flach, and Green Balthazar Glätti. The Catalan government “has tried everything in order to fulfil their democratic mandate”so as to “allow the Catalan people to vote in a legal scenario”stated the MPs on the 22nd of September. The representatives also lamented Spain’s position as it seemed to be doing “the opposite of the international procedures expected from democratic countries”and pointed out that their “constant vetoes have ended all the legal possibilities for Catalonia”.
Following this, the five MPs asked the federal government if “considering Switzerland’s neutrality and democratic tradition”, they would “propose”the country’s “good manners”to ensure “mediation between Madrid and Barcelona”.