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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/oct/10/catalan-parliament-discusses-independence-referendum-live
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| Catalonia: Puigdemont to reveal independence plans – as it happened | Catalonia: Puigdemont to reveal independence plans – as it happened |
| (25 days later) | |
| For the full story on the Catalan president’s speech, read the report by the Guardian’s Sam Jones on this evening’s events. | For the full story on the Catalan president’s speech, read the report by the Guardian’s Sam Jones on this evening’s events. |
| This live blog has now closed. Thank you for reading and have a peaceful evening. | This live blog has now closed. Thank you for reading and have a peaceful evening. |
| Very little has been resolved by Carles Puigdemont’s speech. | Very little has been resolved by Carles Puigdemont’s speech. |
| El Pais opinion writer Jorge Galindo jokes Spain could still use article 155 of the Spanish constitution to take control of Catalonia’s regional government, and the radical pro-independence CUP party could break from the coalition it has with Puigdemont’s party indefinitely. | El Pais opinion writer Jorge Galindo jokes Spain could still use article 155 of the Spanish constitution to take control of Catalonia’s regional government, and the radical pro-independence CUP party could break from the coalition it has with Puigdemont’s party indefinitely. |
| Ahora el Gobierno podría hacer un 155 en diferido, la CUP romper la coalición en diferido, y todos contentos. | Ahora el Gobierno podría hacer un 155 en diferido, la CUP romper la coalición en diferido, y todos contentos. |
| The key points of Puigdemont’s speech: | The key points of Puigdemont’s speech: |
| The Catalan leader asked for a mandate to declare Catalonia an independent state. | The Catalan leader asked for a mandate to declare Catalonia an independent state. |
| He proposed suspending the effect of the independence declaration to the Catalan parliament, in order to hold talks with Madrid. | He proposed suspending the effect of the independence declaration to the Catalan parliament, in order to hold talks with Madrid. |
| Puigdemont said it was worth exploring international mediation to resolve the crisis. | Puigdemont said it was worth exploring international mediation to resolve the crisis. |
| The Catalan head said he was convinced that the region’s conflict with Spain could be resolved in a negotiated way. | The Catalan head said he was convinced that the region’s conflict with Spain could be resolved in a negotiated way. |
| Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has proposed further dialogue in order to work toward independence. | Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has proposed further dialogue in order to work toward independence. |
| He says: | He says: |
| I want to follow people’s will for Catalonia to become an independent state. | I want to follow people’s will for Catalonia to become an independent state. |
| The parliament erupts with applause. But he says the government wants to delay any formal declaration. He continues: | The parliament erupts with applause. But he says the government wants to delay any formal declaration. He continues: |
| We propose to suspend the effect of the independence declaration... in order to work towards putting into practice the result of the referendum... Today, we are making a gesture of responsibility in favour of dialogue. | We propose to suspend the effect of the independence declaration... in order to work towards putting into practice the result of the referendum... Today, we are making a gesture of responsibility in favour of dialogue. |
| Carles Puigdemont has switched from Catalan to Spanish, and is now addressing the Spanish people. | Carles Puigdemont has switched from Catalan to Spanish, and is now addressing the Spanish people. |
| We are not criminals, we are not mad. We are normal people, and we just want to vote. We have been ready to talk and have dialogue. We have nothing against Spain. We want to have a better understanding with Spain. The relationship hasn’t been working for many years, and now it’s unsustainable. | We are not criminals, we are not mad. We are normal people, and we just want to vote. We have been ready to talk and have dialogue. We have nothing against Spain. We want to have a better understanding with Spain. The relationship hasn’t been working for many years, and now it’s unsustainable. |
| The Catalan leader is giving a long history lesson on the province and the Catalan independence campaign. | The Catalan leader is giving a long history lesson on the province and the Catalan independence campaign. |
| He has been speaking for around 20 minutes, and there is still no detail on what he plans to do. | He has been speaking for around 20 minutes, and there is still no detail on what he plans to do. |
| Puigdemont condemns the police violence that was seen during the referendum. | Puigdemont condemns the police violence that was seen during the referendum. |
| He continues: | He continues: |
| I want to explain now why we are here. I think we should explain ourselves. Since the death of the dictator Franco, Catalonia has contributed massively to Spanish democracy. | I want to explain now why we are here. I think we should explain ourselves. Since the death of the dictator Franco, Catalonia has contributed massively to Spanish democracy. |
| Catalonia thought the 1978 Spanish constitution could be a good platform for democracy, and got involved. But later, we realised that the Spanish authorities were seeing this as the final target, but for us, it was a transition. | Catalonia thought the 1978 Spanish constitution could be a good platform for democracy, and got involved. But later, we realised that the Spanish authorities were seeing this as the final target, but for us, it was a transition. |
| In 2005, 85% of this parliament, following the procedures that the constitution establishes, approved a new statue for Catalonia, and that triggered a massive anti-Catalan campaign by the people that want to govern and dominate Spain at any price. | In 2005, 85% of this parliament, following the procedures that the constitution establishes, approved a new statue for Catalonia, and that triggered a massive anti-Catalan campaign by the people that want to govern and dominate Spain at any price. |
| The Catalan leader continues to speak about the integrity of the referendum, and thanks those who made the vote possible. | The Catalan leader continues to speak about the integrity of the referendum, and thanks those who made the vote possible. |
| The chamber applauds in agreement. | The chamber applauds in agreement. |
| The Catalan leader starts: | The Catalan leader starts: |
| I am not planning any threat, any insults. We are all responsible for this. We need de-escalate the situation, not feed it any longer. I want to address everyone about the issue. | I am not planning any threat, any insults. We are all responsible for this. We need de-escalate the situation, not feed it any longer. I want to address everyone about the issue. |
| We are all part of the same community and we need to go forward together. We will never agree on everything, but we have proved many times that the only way to move forward is with democracy and peace. That requires dialogue. | We are all part of the same community and we need to go forward together. We will never agree on everything, but we have proved many times that the only way to move forward is with democracy and peace. That requires dialogue. |
| Carles Puigdemont has started speaking. He greets the assembly, then says he is here to lay out the consequences of the independence referendum. | Carles Puigdemont has started speaking. He greets the assembly, then says he is here to lay out the consequences of the independence referendum. |
| The pro-independence supporters outside the Catalan parliament fall silent as the session begins. The Catalan leader looks relaxed. | The pro-independence supporters outside the Catalan parliament fall silent as the session begins. The Catalan leader looks relaxed. |
| The chamber in the Catalan parliament is filling up again, and Carles Puigdemont has just arrived. He’s taken off his glasses and he’s reading over the speech one last time. | The chamber in the Catalan parliament is filling up again, and Carles Puigdemont has just arrived. He’s taken off his glasses and he’s reading over the speech one last time. |
| Here we go... | Here we go... |
| Spanish media are reporting Carles Puigdemont asked for the postponement because the radical pro-independence CUP party is unhappy with the wording of his declaration. | Spanish media are reporting Carles Puigdemont asked for the postponement because the radical pro-independence CUP party is unhappy with the wording of his declaration. |
| Two minutes to go until the Catlan leader is due to speak. The parliament is still empty... | Two minutes to go until the Catlan leader is due to speak. The parliament is still empty... |
| With just 15 minutes to go until Carles Puigdemont is due to speak, there lots of rumours flying around about the reasons behind the postponement. | With just 15 minutes to go until Carles Puigdemont is due to speak, there lots of rumours flying around about the reasons behind the postponement. |
| The Guardian understands there has been contact between the regional government and EU officials, possibly even European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, although we have no formal confirmation. | The Guardian understands there has been contact between the regional government and EU officials, possibly even European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, although we have no formal confirmation. |
| The EU’s official position is that Catalonia’s independence bid is an “internal” Spanish matter. | The EU’s official position is that Catalonia’s independence bid is an “internal” Spanish matter. |
| A Catalan government spokesman has told the Guardian that some kind of talks are under way to resolve the crisis, saying: “There is a mediation effort going on and that’s all we are gong to say for now.” | A Catalan government spokesman has told the Guardian that some kind of talks are under way to resolve the crisis, saying: “There is a mediation effort going on and that’s all we are gong to say for now.” |