Published by ANSAMed, February 3rd 2017.
To stop referendum on independence
MADRID – Tension has been rising between Barcelona and Madrid as part of a referendum on Catalonian independence supported by regional president Carles Puigdemont for September, reported El Periodico on Friday.
Several pro-independence leaders have recently said that the referendum might be held prior to September – possibly in May or June – as a response to legal proceedings against former regional president Artur Mas and the current Catalan parliament speaker Carme Forcadell for ‘disobedience’.
Puigdemont has said that there is no doubt that the referendum will be held despite ”threats” from Madrid, while Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy has called it unconstitutional and said that it will not take place.
Quoting sources close to Rajoy, Spanish media outlets have reported that the prime minister is prepared to use strong-arm methods to stop it from being held. Using Article 155 of the constitution, Madrid may take control of the regional police and prevent access to voting stations. Or it could suspend Catalan autonomy and retake control of it through a majority vote in the Madrid Senate, which is controlled by Rajoy’s Partido Popular (PP).
Read the full article here.
Americans For Catalonia 