Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy has reacted to the electoral victory by pro-Catalonian independence party recently, stating that his government was open to dialogue within the framework of the law.
In a veiled reference to the government’s rejection of any further referendum on the issue, he said “it is up to the Catalonian parties to come up with options and hopes that there will be a government that abandons unilateral decision and respect the rule of law.”
Speaker with journalists in Madrid, the Spanish capital, Friday, he said the issue has socially fractured the society.
He said; “I will not accept that the Constitution is not respected. The result does not matter whether to respect or show lack of respect for whomever won the vote. But until the Constitution is amended, we will have to respect it”.
The last statement was in reference to journalists’ question whether he would invite the separatist Carles Puigdemont, currently in exile in Belgium.
Catalonia wants to be an independent state. This is the wish of the Catalan people. I think the plan of Mariano Rajoy is not working, so we have to find new ways to tackle this crisis.” Puidgemont said from exile.A snap regional election saw the region’s biggest party, Citizens running away with victory. Citizens (Cs) had 25.3 per cent of the vote, winning 37 seats in the 135-seat chamber. Leader, Inés Arrimadas wants Catalonia to remain a semi-autonomous part of Spain. The victory gives her no chance to form a coalition.
Mariano Rajoy
However, with nearly all votes counted, the pro-independence parties, Together for Catalonia (JxCat), Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and Popular Unity (CUP) were on course to win a total of 70 seats in total, giving them a majority in the new parliament. The region had held a referendum that supported independence from Spain. But the government reacted by denouncing those it called the instigators and forced separatist leader Piudgemont into exile. The regional vote showed the issue is still alive and breathing.
