Catalonia May Declare Independence Today

New York Times: Catalan Leader Expected to Declare Independence

BARCELONA, Spain — The battle between Catalan separatists and the Spanish central government was on course to reach a turning point Tuesday evening, when Carles Puigdemont, the leader of the region, was expected to declare independence from the rest of the country.

Politicians and analysts expect Mr. Puigdemont, who is to speak to the regional Parliament at 6 p.m., to issue a toned-down declaration that would leave the door open for negotiations with the national government in Madrid, although Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has rejected any dialogue with Catalan separatists until they abandon plans for secession.

Mr. Puigdemont is struggling to keep together his unwieldy alliance of separatist lawmakers, who control a majority of the seats in the Catalan Parliament after winning 48 percent of the votes in 2015.

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WNU Editor: When a government uses force to assert its authority .... it has already lost the debate. The Spanish government is now going to double down on just that .... Spanish Police Set To Arrest Catalan Leader "Immediately" If He Declares Independence (Zero Hedge).

More News On Expectations That Catalonia May Declare Independence Today

Catalonia's leader weighs statehood declaration even as warnings mount -- Washington Post
Secession speech nerves keep Spain's bond yields above one-week low -- Reuters
Catalans Face a Day of Reckoning Over Independence -- Bloomberg
Spain braced for possible Catalonian independence declaration -- Telegraph
Catalonia's independence standoff: How we got here -- CNN
Catalonia's Secessionists Divided on Whether to Announce Breakaway -- Voice of America
Spain Catalan crisis: Six things you need to know -- BBC News