Catalonia’s vice president has said Spanish authorities are giving separatists “no other option” but to push ahead with proclaiming a new republic.
Oriol Junqueras said his party — one of two in the ruling separatist Catalan coalition— is “going to work towards building a republic, because we understand that there is a democratic mandate to establish such a republic”.
He said he was speaking on behalf of his Republican Left party and not for the regional government of President Carles Puigdemont.
Oriol Junqueras said his party is “going to work towards building a republic (Santi Palacios/AP)
His remarks come amid frantic jockeying in the Catalan government on how to respond to plans by Madrid to fire them and directly manage the region’s affairs.
Political representatives for Mr Puigdemont say he does not plan to appear before the Spanish Senate to defend his push for independence and to argue against the central government’s move to sack him and his ministers.
Regional party officials said Catalonia’s parliament speaker informed their representatives that Mr Puigdemont would instead attend the regional body’s session on Thursday to press forward with the secession effort.
Catalan media also strongly criticised plans by the Spanish government to take control of the outlets as part of moves to invoke constitutional authority over Catalonia.
Independence flags are displayed for selling for 1 euro inside a store in downtown Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP
A joint statement by TV3, Catalunya Radio and the news agency ACN described the plan as “a direct attack on the citizens of Catalonia”.
The statement, read out in six languages by television and radio anchors during a news conference, said Catalan public media was highly trusted and rated, and Madrid’s threat to take control was “a denial of the right to true, objective, pluralistic, balanced information”.
Prime minister Mariano Rajoy is seeking to invoke constitutional authority over Catalonia, with Spain’s Senate expected to approve the measures on Friday.
He said the government’s plans to take unprecedented control of Catalonia’s key affairs and halt the region’s push for independence are “exceptional” and he hopes they will not last long.
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