This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/09/catalonia-president-to-bring-crisis-to-head-in-parliament
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Catalonia's president to bring crisis to head in parliament | Catalonia's president to bring crisis to head in parliament |
| (1 day later) | |
| Spain’s worst political crisis in four decades is expected to come to a head on Tuesday when the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, reveals his plans for independence as he addresses the regional parliament for the first time since the referendum that provoked the standoff with the Spanish government. | Spain’s worst political crisis in four decades is expected to come to a head on Tuesday when the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, reveals his plans for independence as he addresses the regional parliament for the first time since the referendum that provoked the standoff with the Spanish government. |
| Although Puigdemont had originally promised to make a unilateral declaration of independence within 48 hours of a victory for the secessionist campaign, he has so far held off from doing so, calling instead for mediated negotiations with the Madrid government. | Although Puigdemont had originally promised to make a unilateral declaration of independence within 48 hours of a victory for the secessionist campaign, he has so far held off from doing so, calling instead for mediated negotiations with the Madrid government. |
| It is unclear whether Puigdemont will push ahead with a formal declaration of independence or choose a less drastic option in the hope of avoiding a further escalation of tensions. He is due to appear before parliament at 6pm. | It is unclear whether Puigdemont will push ahead with a formal declaration of independence or choose a less drastic option in the hope of avoiding a further escalation of tensions. He is due to appear before parliament at 6pm. |
| The Spanish government has repeatedly argued that the referendum was illegal and unconstitutional and has said it will use all the legal means at its disposal to prevent Catalonia from splitting from the rest of the country. | The Spanish government has repeatedly argued that the referendum was illegal and unconstitutional and has said it will use all the legal means at its disposal to prevent Catalonia from splitting from the rest of the country. |
| Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has threatened to impose direct rule on Catalonia, and a series of banks and businesses have announced plans to relocate from the region amid the enduring uncertainty. | Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has threatened to impose direct rule on Catalonia, and a series of banks and businesses have announced plans to relocate from the region amid the enduring uncertainty. |
| Police are stationed outside government buildings in Barcelona and have closed off the Ciutadella park around the regional parliament on security grounds. | Police are stationed outside government buildings in Barcelona and have closed off the Ciutadella park around the regional parliament on security grounds. |
| By mid-morning on Tuesday the park was ringed by Catalan regional police officers, the Mossos d’Esquadra, while Spanish national police vans were parked around the corner. Thousands of independence campaigners are expected to gather nearby on Tuesday afternoon to watch the parliamentary session on giant screens. | By mid-morning on Tuesday the park was ringed by Catalan regional police officers, the Mossos d’Esquadra, while Spanish national police vans were parked around the corner. Thousands of independence campaigners are expected to gather nearby on Tuesday afternoon to watch the parliamentary session on giant screens. |
| A Catalan government source dismissed suggestions that Puigdemont would opt for a merely symbolic recognition of independence, but refused to be drawn on what he might do. | A Catalan government source dismissed suggestions that Puigdemont would opt for a merely symbolic recognition of independence, but refused to be drawn on what he might do. |
| “We’re still on track. We’re here to do what we’re here to do and we will do it, especially now that we know that people have voted in a referendum and the result is clear,” the source said. | “We’re still on track. We’re here to do what we’re here to do and we will do it, especially now that we know that people have voted in a referendum and the result is clear,” the source said. |
| “We’re not doing anything apart from what we have committed to do. It is the president’s prerogative to establish the exact parameters on which this will be done.” | “We’re not doing anything apart from what we have committed to do. It is the president’s prerogative to establish the exact parameters on which this will be done.” |
| Despite growing pressure from domestic political parties, the Spanish government has made it clear it will not sit down and talk to its Catalan counterpart until the latter drops all talk of independence. | Despite growing pressure from domestic political parties, the Spanish government has made it clear it will not sit down and talk to its Catalan counterpart until the latter drops all talk of independence. |
| If independence is declared, Madrid could reach for article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which allows the government to take control of an autonomous region that “does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws, or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain”. | If independence is declared, Madrid could reach for article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which allows the government to take control of an autonomous region that “does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws, or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain”. |
| Invocation of 155 is seen as a last resort, and would throw Spain and the EU into uncharted territory. | Invocation of 155 is seen as a last resort, and would throw Spain and the EU into uncharted territory. |
| Senior European commission officials have so far ruled out intervening, insisting the crisis is an internal Spanish matter. The use of the article could change their minds and trigger mediation efforts. | |
| One thing is certain: with tensions high after the polling day violence and thousands of police officers still deployed to the region, any show of force from the Spanish state will trigger massive demonstrations. | One thing is certain: with tensions high after the polling day violence and thousands of police officers still deployed to the region, any show of force from the Spanish state will trigger massive demonstrations. |
| A Catalan parliament official told the Associated Press that its governing board had “taken note” of the referendum results, in which 90% of participants voted in favour of independence. But the official said the board would take no action beyond acknowledging the poll results. | A Catalan parliament official told the Associated Press that its governing board had “taken note” of the referendum results, in which 90% of participants voted in favour of independence. But the official said the board would take no action beyond acknowledging the poll results. |
| Spain’s economy minister, Luis de Guindos, said he hoped common sense would prevail and that the Catalan president would not declare independence. | Spain’s economy minister, Luis de Guindos, said he hoped common sense would prevail and that the Catalan president would not declare independence. |
| Speaking in Luxembourg, De Guindos blamed Puigdemont’s “radical” and “irresponsible” government for the crisis and said his European counterparts were backing the Spanish government’s position. | Speaking in Luxembourg, De Guindos blamed Puigdemont’s “radical” and “irresponsible” government for the crisis and said his European counterparts were backing the Spanish government’s position. |
| “This is not about independence yes or no,” he said. “This is about a rebellion against the rule of law. And the rule of law is the foundation of coexistence, not only in Spain but in Europe.” | “This is not about independence yes or no,” he said. “This is about a rebellion against the rule of law. And the rule of law is the foundation of coexistence, not only in Spain but in Europe.” |
| Rajoy has vowed to preserve national unity and shown himself willing to invoke article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which allows the central government to take control of an autonomous region if it “does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws, or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain”. | Rajoy has vowed to preserve national unity and shown himself willing to invoke article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which allows the central government to take control of an autonomous region if it “does not fulfil the obligations imposed upon it by the constitution or other laws, or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain”. |
| Invoking the article, which has never been used, would provoke an angry response in Catalonia. Tempers in the region remain high following the Spanish police’s efforts to stop the referendum on 1 October. Officers raided polling stations, beat voters and fired rubber bullets at crowds. | Invoking the article, which has never been used, would provoke an angry response in Catalonia. Tempers in the region remain high following the Spanish police’s efforts to stop the referendum on 1 October. Officers raided polling stations, beat voters and fired rubber bullets at crowds. |
| Rajoy has said the thousands of Guardia Civil and national police officers originally deployed in Catalonia to prevent the vote will remain there “until things return to normal”. | Rajoy has said the thousands of Guardia Civil and national police officers originally deployed in Catalonia to prevent the vote will remain there “until things return to normal”. |
| Much could rest on the response of the Mossos d’Esquadra to either a unilateral declaration of independence or the imposition of direct rule from Madrid. | Much could rest on the response of the Mossos d’Esquadra to either a unilateral declaration of independence or the imposition of direct rule from Madrid. |
| Unions representing the two national forces have accused the Mossos of “clear disobedience” and an “unacceptable passivity” when it came to halting the referendum. | Unions representing the two national forces have accused the Mossos of “clear disobedience” and an “unacceptable passivity” when it came to halting the referendum. |
| While the Mossos agreed to seal off polling stations during the referendum, they warned that such actions risked public order. | While the Mossos agreed to seal off polling stations during the referendum, they warned that such actions risked public order. |
| The head of the force, Josep Lluís Trapero, is being investigated for sedition by Spain’s national court amid accusations that the Mossos failed to assist Guardia Civil officers who raided government buildings and arrested 14 Catalan officials last month. | The head of the force, Josep Lluís Trapero, is being investigated for sedition by Spain’s national court amid accusations that the Mossos failed to assist Guardia Civil officers who raided government buildings and arrested 14 Catalan officials last month. |
| According to the Catalan government, 2.3 million of Catalonia’s 5.3 million registered voters cast a ballot in the referendum. A full count has been complicated by the fact that 770,000 votes were lost due to the police disruption. | According to the Catalan government, 2.3 million of Catalonia’s 5.3 million registered voters cast a ballot in the referendum. A full count has been complicated by the fact that 770,000 votes were lost due to the police disruption. |