BREAKING: Catalonia REFUSES to confirm independence sparking political crisis in Spain

Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy gave Puigdemont a deadline of 10am today to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on the question of whether Catalonia had split from Spain.

But instead of a one-word answer, the Catalan leader sent Rajoy a two-page letter fudging the issue for a second time and urging him to reverse the central government’s “repression” of the Catalan people and its leaders and organise a meeting to try to find a solution through peaceful dialogue.

He said in the letter: “Our proposal for dialogue is sincere, despite everything that has happened, but logically it’s incompatible with the current climate of growing repression and threats.”

Highlighting as one of the examples of repression the new court appearance in Madrid later today/yesterday (MON) of Josep Luis Trapero, the head of Catalan’s regional Mossos d’Esquadra police who is being investigated on suspicion of sedition, he added: “Let’s not allow this situation to deteriorate anymore.

“With the right will, recognising the problem and dealing with it head on, I’m sure we can find the path to a solution.”
Puigdemont’s failure to give Rajoy a clear answer is expected to lead to the suspension of part or all of Calalonia’s autonomy through the Parliament-backed invocation of Article 155.

It will allow the government in Madrid to intervene directly in the running of the region, which has been immersed in two weeks of uncertainty following the organisation of an illegal independence referendum on October 1 marred by police violence against voters.

More than two million people – 92 per cent of those that took part – said ‘yes’ to independence, although there were many irregularities including double and triple voting in some areas.

Puigdemont was expected to declare immediate Catalan independence in a keynote speech to Parliament last Tuesday, but ended up fudging the issue in a dramatic eleventh-hour change of heart by saying he was putting it on hold so he could open a period of dialogue.

More than 500 firms have moved their HQs to other parts of Spain since the referendum vote.

There have been isolated outbreaks of violence – in Barcelona as well as Valencia where far right-wing thugs used sticks and batons to attack pro-independence supporters taking part in a march last Monday.

The Spanish government is expected to go ahead with plans to invoke Article 155 after 10am on Thursday, the second deadline Rajoy gave Puigdemont when he reacted to the Catalan leader’s independence fudge last week, unless he backtracks over the next three days.

Opposition Catalan leaders who are fighting Puigdemont’s breakaway attempt are divided on how far Madrid should go in imposing direct rule.

Some want Article 155 to be invoked solely for the purpose of calling regional elections to give those living in Catalonia a chance to express themselves in a legal ballot, while others say it should be extended to include the removal of autonomy in the areas of police and education.

There was no immediate response from the Spanish government this morning.