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| Spain PM holds first talks with Catalan pro-secession leader | Spain PM holds first talks with Catalan pro-secession leader |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MADRID — Acting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will hold his first official meeting with Catalonia’s pro-independence regional president, Carles Puigdemont, with talks likely to center on the region’s finances although the secession issue is certain to surface. | MADRID — Acting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will hold his first official meeting with Catalonia’s pro-independence regional president, Carles Puigdemont, with talks likely to center on the region’s finances although the secession issue is certain to surface. |
| Puigdemont took office in January, promising to push ahead with his coalition government’s secession plans. Rajoy, who heads Spain’s caretaker government since the inconclusive Dec. 20 election, is likely to reiterate his steadfast opposition to Catalonia’s independence in Wednesday’s meeting. | |
| The independence drive has gathered force in recent years after Catalonia failed to win more financing concessions from Madrid. | The independence drive has gathered force in recent years after Catalonia failed to win more financing concessions from Madrid. |
| Pro-secession parties hold a slim majority in the Catalan regional parliament but the region of 7.5 million people is evenly divided over splitting from Spain. | Pro-secession parties hold a slim majority in the Catalan regional parliament but the region of 7.5 million people is evenly divided over splitting from Spain. |
| Catalonia accounts for nearly a fifth of Spain’s economic output. | Catalonia accounts for nearly a fifth of Spain’s economic output. |
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| This version corrects that Spain’s election was held on Dec. 20, not Dec. 30. | |
| 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |