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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/01/catalonia-independence-crisis-new-spain-pm-pedro-sanchez-mariano-rajoy
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Catalan independence crisis at top of new Spain PM’s in-tray | Catalan independence crisis at top of new Spain PM’s in-tray |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Mariano Rajoy may have been reluctant to leave office on Friday, but it is unlikely he will miss having to deal with one of the defining issues of his premiership: the Catalan independence question. | Mariano Rajoy may have been reluctant to leave office on Friday, but it is unlikely he will miss having to deal with one of the defining issues of his premiership: the Catalan independence question. |
| That problem is now at the top of Pedro Sánchez’s prime ministerial in-tray. | That problem is now at the top of Pedro Sánchez’s prime ministerial in-tray. |
| Eight months ago, the now deposed Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, thrust Spain into its worst political crisis since its return to democracy, after his government held a unilateral independence referendum and then declared the region had split from the rest of the country. | Eight months ago, the now deposed Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, thrust Spain into its worst political crisis since its return to democracy, after his government held a unilateral independence referendum and then declared the region had split from the rest of the country. |
| The unilateral independence declaration led Rajoy to take the unprecedented step of using article 155 of the Spanish constitution to sack Puigdemont and his government and assume direct control of Catalonia. | The unilateral independence declaration led Rajoy to take the unprecedented step of using article 155 of the Spanish constitution to sack Puigdemont and his government and assume direct control of Catalonia. |
| Although Puigdemont remains in self-imposed exile in Germany, his successor, the hardline Catalan nationalist Quim Torra, has promised to press on with efforts to create a republic. | Although Puigdemont remains in self-imposed exile in Germany, his successor, the hardline Catalan nationalist Quim Torra, has promised to press on with efforts to create a republic. |
| On Friday, Germany’s federal prosecutors filed a formal request to extradite Puigdemont to Spain, where he faces charges of rebellion and corruption. A court in Schleswig-Holstein is set to re-examine the case. | On Friday, Germany’s federal prosecutors filed a formal request to extradite Puigdemont to Spain, where he faces charges of rebellion and corruption. A court in Schleswig-Holstein is set to re-examine the case. |
| Direct rule from Madrid is due to end on Saturday, following Torra’s decision to abandon attempts to appoint jailed or fugitive members of Puigdemont’s cabinet to his new administration. Once his cabinet is sworn in, the application of article 155 will lapse. | |
| Catalonia’s two biggest pro-independence parties – Puigdemont’s PDeCat and the Catalan Republican Left – lent their support to Sánchez’s successful attempt to unseat Rajoy and will be keen to get something in return. | Catalonia’s two biggest pro-independence parties – Puigdemont’s PDeCat and the Catalan Republican Left – lent their support to Sánchez’s successful attempt to unseat Rajoy and will be keen to get something in return. |
| In an address to parliament during Thursday’s no-confidence debate, Sánchez said he would seek dialogue with the new Catalan government and aimed to build consensus over what the PSOE leader termed last year’s “institutional crisis”. | In an address to parliament during Thursday’s no-confidence debate, Sánchez said he would seek dialogue with the new Catalan government and aimed to build consensus over what the PSOE leader termed last year’s “institutional crisis”. |
| However, he said any negotiations would have to abide by the constitution, which stresses the “indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation”. | However, he said any negotiations would have to abide by the constitution, which stresses the “indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation”. |
| Sánchez faces an unenviable task. While the three pro-independence parties retained their parliamentary majority in the regional election in December, the biggest single winner was the regional branch of the centre-right Ciudadanos party, which has taken an aggressively unionist approach to the crisis. | Sánchez faces an unenviable task. While the three pro-independence parties retained their parliamentary majority in the regional election in December, the biggest single winner was the regional branch of the centre-right Ciudadanos party, which has taken an aggressively unionist approach to the crisis. |
| Recent polls also suggest Ciudadanos would finish first in nationwide elections. | Recent polls also suggest Ciudadanos would finish first in nationwide elections. |
| Mindful of the political competition and the damage done by the images of police charging Catalan voters in the referendum in October, Spain’s new prime minister will have to tread carefully. | Mindful of the political competition and the damage done by the images of police charging Catalan voters in the referendum in October, Spain’s new prime minister will have to tread carefully. |
| Spain | Spain |
| Catalonia | Catalonia |
| Europe | Europe |
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