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Catalonia secession push halted as party opposes Mas Catalonia secession push halted as party opposes Mas
(about 14 hours later)
MADRID — A small, far-left party has voted against backing Artur Mas as leader of Catalonia’s regional parliament, temporarily halting a push toward independence from Spain by the powerful northeastern region and almost certainly triggering a new local election. MADRID — A small, far-left party on Sunday voted against backing Artur Mas as leader of Catalonia’s regional parliament, temporarily halting a push toward independence from Spain by the powerful northeastern region and almost certainly triggering a new local election.
Mas heads the separatist “Together for Yes” alliance that won 62 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament last September and needed the support of Popular Unity Candidacy’s 10 seats to secure a workable majority.Mas heads the separatist “Together for Yes” alliance that won 62 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament last September and needed the support of Popular Unity Candidacy’s 10 seats to secure a workable majority.
After three months of debates, CUP members finally decided Sunday not to support Mas as leader of a separatist coalition. After three months of debates, CUP members finally decided at a meeting Sunday afternoon not to support Mas as leader of a separatist coalition.
As the other groups in the parliament had warned Mas they had no intention of negotiating with him and had set Jan. 10 as a deadline for an agreement, a new regional election in March now look inevitable. Although CUP members have said they favor the establishment of a Catalan republic separate from Spain, they have on repeated occasions said Mas was unacceptable to them as a coalition leader.
Speaking after the meeting, party spokesman Sergi Saladie said it was possible CUP might reconsider its position if someone other than Mas was nominated as regional government leader.
However, the Together for Yes alliance has maintained Mas’ leadership role was a non-negotiable issue.
Mas ran for election in September on a platform of setting the region bordering France on a path toward independence by 2017.
As the other groups in the parliament had warned Mas they had no intention of negotiating with him and had set Jan. 10 as a deadline for an agreement, a new regional election in March now looks inevitable.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.