Reuters: Spain-Catalonia standoff set to intensify as leaders take hard lines
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain’s political showdown with Catalonia is set to reach a new level on Thursday when political leaders in Madrid and Barcelona are expected to make good on pledges made to their supporters to stick to their tough positions over the region’s future.
In an unprecedented move since Spain returned to democracy in the late 1970s, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will impose direct rule in Catalonia unless the region’s leader Carles Puigdemont retracts by 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) an ambiguous declaration of independence he made last week.
Puigdemont told members of his Catalan Democratic Party on Wednesday night that not only he would not back down but that he would press ahead with a more formal declaration of independence if Rajoy suspends Catalonia’s political autonomy.
It is not yet clear how and when this declaration would take place and whether it would be endorsed by the regional assembly, though many pro-independence lawmakers have openly said they wanted to hold a vote in the Catalan parliament to make it more solemn.
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Update #1: Catalonia: Spain ultimatum looms over independence push (BBC)
Update #2: Catalonia's Carles Puigdemont firm on independence bid as Madrid deadline looms (DW)
WNU Editor: Since the referendum both sides have shown no interest to negotiate or compromise. As a result, the die is now cast .... Spain will impose direct rule on Catalonia tomorrow, and Catalonia will declare independence .... Catalonia to press ahead with independence if Madrid suspends autonomy (Reuters). In my lifetime I have seen the Soviet Union break-up, Yugoslavia a few years later, and to a lesser extent .... Ukraine today. The circumstances are different in Spain, but the unwillingness to negotiate .... and to then use the Guardia Civil to stop the referendum followed by arresting political leaders .... just galvanized support for independence in Catalonia to the levels that we see it today. Bottom line ..... this is not going to end well.
4 comments:
Well, this is probably it. It's going to be almost impossible to go back and the EU powers to be have run out of ideas (excepting brute force) to keep their project together.
" Since the referendum both sides have shown no interest to negotiate or compromise."
Well, to be fair, the Catalonia government has tried to reach out to Spain, only to be given the cold shoulder.
You're right Plowman.
D.Plowman,
This has been my observation as well. Catalonia has been more than reasonable during the whole process. It is Spain who has acted unreasonably.
James,
You are correct sir. As I patiently pointed out about 15 years ago, the EU is a doomed project that cannot succeed. As such, each nation should move forward independently based upon their unique cultures and unique interests and good relations are possible among the various nations. The only way the EU could be held together would be through the use of brute force/war. This seems to be the choice they have chosen.
The EU project is doomed. It was from the start. It cannot be saved. Naturally Catalonia wants off the sinking ship!! For the good of humanity and the nations they are supposed to be representing bring the project to an orderly end.
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