Catalonia seeks Spain’s settlement for brand spanking new independence referendum

Catalonia will push the Spanish authorities for a brand new settlement on holding a binding referendum on the area’s potential independence that might be recognised each by Spain and the worldwide neighborhood, its separatist chief stated on Tuesday.

The Spanish authorities, nevertheless, rejected the proposal.

“They have those maximalist aspirations, which are absolutely not shared by the government,” spokesperson Isabel Rodriguez informed reporters.

But each governments would hold speaking to “normalize” their relationship, she stated.

The so-called “clarity agreement” proposal comes shortly earlier than the fifth anniversary of Catalonia’s unauthorized independence referendum and at a essential time for its separatist motion, which is marred by divisions between moderates and radicals which have threatened to fracture the coalition authorities.

Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has favoured dialogue with Catalonia to rebuild relations after a chaotic unilateral bid for independence in 2017 plunged Spain into its worst political disaster in years.

It stays, nevertheless, staunchly against independence and has hitherto dominated out a authorized referendum. The Spanish structure blocks the nation’s break up however some students and Catalan separatists argue there could possibly be authorized room for a vote if the Spanish authorities agrees.

An analogous proposal by Catalonia in 2012 was firmly rejected by the then conservative authorities in Madrid. The rich northeastern area held a referendum 5 years later regardless of a ban by the courts, and issued a short-lived unilateral independence declaration.

Catalan authorities head Pere Aragones informed the regional parliament that for one more referendum, Catalonia wanted Madrid’s buy-in.

“I have no doubt this is the fastest and most efficient way to hold another vote because it originates from the lessons learned from 2017 and overcomes the difficulties that did not allow us to implement the result five years ago,” he stated.

He referred to as his proposal the “most inclusive, democratic and explainable to the international community”, and stated he would search the help of all Catalonia’s political actors.

Aragones has engaged in talks with Madrid and his occasion, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, has continuously lent its votes to the socialist-led minority authorities in congress.

Around 52% of Catalans oppose independence and 41% again it, in response to a June ballot.