Spain braced for Catalonia independence declaration after 350,000 march for Spanish unity

Sebastian Mann9 October 2017

Spain faces a major escalation in its worst political crisis for decades as the country braces for a possible declaration of independence by the Catalan government.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched in favour of unity on the streets of Barcelona on Sunday, giving a voice to the “silent majority” of Catalans who oppose independence.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy insisted Spain would not be divided in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt on Monday, but many fear the region’s government is about to unilaterally declare independence after an illegal referendum found 90 per cent of Catalans in favour of secession.

Carles Puigdemont, the president of Catalonia’s government, is set to appear in the province’s regional parliament on Tuesday when he is expected to make a major statement on the next steps.

Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, left, with Spain's PM Mariano Rajoy
REUTERS

In an interview with TV programme 30 Minuts (30 Minutes), the premier said he was willing to make a dramatic unilateral declaration that would threaten to tear about centuries-long unity in Spain.

He said Madrid had made no effort at mediation and insisted: “If the state doesn’t respond positively, we will do what we came to do.”

Spain’s central government has repeatedly claimed the unity of the country is not up for debate and refuses to enter into talks over secession.

In a newspaper interview published on Monday, Mr Rajoy said: “Spain will not be divided and national unity will be preserved. We'll do everything that legislation allows to ensure that."

Central government has the power to suspend autonomous powers in the region and Mr Rajoy has refused to rule out such a move, which is likely to spark an angry reaction from pro-independence supporters.

Police estimated around 350,000 people turned out for Sunday’s major demonstration against Catalan independence.

350,000 stage anti-independence rally in Barcelona

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Protesters waving Spanish and Catalan flags flooded the streets of Barcelona – the scene of dramatic clashes between riot police and voters last Sunday – in an effort to represent what they call the “silent majority”.

Demonstrators carried banners with messages including “Catalonia is Spain" and "Together we are stronger".

On Monday, two more Catalonia-based companies were set to hold board meetings on whether to shift headquarters out of the region amid the political turmoil.

Spain’s third biggest lender Caixabank was last week among several major companies to decide to move its offices away from Barcelona to Madrid.

Catalonia, one of Spain’s wealthiest regions with its own culture and language, held a referendum on October 1 in which an overwhelming majority backed independence although less than half of voters turned out.

But the poll, which Spain’s top court had ruled unconstitutional, was marred by violence as national police tried to disrupt voting and were pictured clashing with members of the public.

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