Tag: Carles Puigdemont

• Wednesday, October 11th 2017 - 14:15 UTC

  Catalonia president speech on independence triggers elation...and disillusion

  

  Catalan President Carles Puigdemont said on Tuesday he has a mandate to declare independence for the north-eastern Spanish region but is prepared to wait “a few weeks” in order to facilitate a dialogue. Puigdemont told the Catalan parliament a landslide victory in the disputed October 1 referendum on independence gives his government grounds to implement its long-held desire to break century-old ties with Spain but he is suggesting holding off.

• Tuesday, October 10th 2017 - 07:08 UTC

  Support for Catalonia president independence declaration rapidly weakening

  

  Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is facing growing pressure to drop plans to break from Spain ahead of a key address to the regional parliament. There has been speculation that he could announce a unilateral declaration of independence following a disputed referendum. France and Germany have both expressed support for a united Spain.

• Sunday, October 8th 2017 - 08:48 UTC

  Weekend of rallies in Spain against Catalonia independence

  

  Rallies are expected in Spain against Catalonian independence, after Sunday's disputed referendum. Demonstrations are planned in Madrid and other cities, with supporters calling for a similar rally in Catalonia's capital Barcelona.

• Wednesday, October 4th 2017 - 07:02 UTC

  Catalonia expected to declare independence in matter of days; King says situation is extremely serious and calls for unity

  

  Catalonia will declare independence from Spain in a matter of days, the leader of the autonomous region has told the BBC. In his first interview since Sunday's referendum, Carles Puigdemont said his government would “act at the end of this week or the beginning of next”.

• Monday, October 2nd 2017 - 09:23 UTC

  Catalonia “closer to statehood”; Rajoy calls Spanish political parties to discuss the situation

  

  Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said on Sunday that the Spanish region has won the right to statehood following a contentious referendum that was marred by violence. He said the door had been opened to a unilateral declaration of independence. Catalan officials later said 90% of those who voted backed independence in Sunday's vote. The turnout was 42.3%.

• Friday, September 29th 2017 - 07:50 UTC

  Catalonia dispute: Madrid sends 6.000 extra police; Barcelona appeals to Europe to mediate

  

  Barcelona police have sealed off a warehouse said to be stocking ballot boxes, as Spain seeks to obstruct a Catalan independence referendum. The Guàrdia Urbana force was obeying an order from prosecutors to prevent the Catalan vote being held on Sunday. About 16,000 school and university students marched through Barcelona demanding that the vote go ahead.

• Thursday, September 29th 2016 - 12:33 UTC

  Catalonia challenges Madrid and will hold an independence referendum next year

  

  Catalonia is to hold a referendum on independence in a year’s time in a move that will infuriate Madrid but which should also return power to the pro-indy campaign in the regional assembly. President Carles Puigdemont told the Catalan Parliament yesterday: “We will look for an agreement (with central government) until the very end, we will at every moment work with the will to hold a referendum in agreement with the state.

• Monday, January 11th 2016 - 14:13 UTC

  Agreement in Catalonia puts more pressure on Madrid for a grand coalition

  

  A fiercely secessionist leader was elected president of the wealthy region of Catalonia thanks to a last-minute show of unity, giving fresh impetus to attempts to break away from Spain after months of infighting. The appointment of Carles Puigdemont, just hours before a deadline which would have forced fresh regional elections, drew an immediate rebuke from Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.