Unionist leader warns of ‘clashes’ in Barcelona during Spanish gov meeting next week

Inés Arrimadas, the leader of unionist Ciutadans party, has warned of upcoming "clashes" as the Spanish government plans to hold a meeting in Barcelona next week.  

"The Spanish president doesn’t realize that if he does nothing, something big can happen," said Arrimadas. She accused Catalan president Quim Torra of encouraging "violent" pro-independence groups to protest.

Arrimadas, the opposition head in the Catalan parliament and leader of the largest party in the chamber, criticized Spain’s president Pedro Sánchez for "talking a lot about holding meetings, and only a little about defending those Catalans that don’t agree with Torra."

As the Spanish cabinet is to meet in Barcelona on Friday next week, ministers from both executives are engaging in talks to agree on a joint meeting too.

Pro-independence groups have called on their supporters to take to their streets to protest against the Spanish government visit, with former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont dismissing the visit as a "clear provocation."

Friday will mark one year since pro-independence parties held on to a parliamentary majority in the Catalan election—a vote called from Madrid after taking over Catalan institutions following a declaration of independence.