The head of the Spanish government, Mariano Rajoy, has set the President of the Catalan government, Carles Puigdemont, a further ultimatum, to state by 10 o'clock on Thursday morning whether or not Catalonia is declaring independence.
“I deeply regret that you have decided not to respond to the request of 11 October and, consequently, have not stated whether any authority of the Generalitat has declared the independence of Catalonia”, the head of the Spanish government responded.
He went on to say that such a clarification was “absolutely necessary – not only for the government of Spain, but also for all Catalan people, who are entitled to know with certainty whether Puigdemont's declaration on 10 October before the Parliament meeting in plenary or the subsequent signature of a document drafted in unequivocal terms means that independence has been declared”.
Rajoy's letter goes on to explain that the current conflict is not a matter of history, but legality. “It is only by putting an end to it that we will be able to discuss the issues that really affect and worry the Catalans,” the Spanish Prime minister explained, referring to the fact that the referendum had been held outside the Spanish legal and constitutional framework – a point of view incidentally shared by the European Commission (see EUROPE 11876).
This dialogue of the deaf therefore continues between two political leaders. On the same morning, Puigdemont wrote to Rajoy to clarify the timetable to open a two-month period with the aim of instituting national and international dialogue, but without clearly responding regarding Catalonia's current status, despite an official request clarification from the Spanish Prime Minister.
Catalonia's status is indeed in legal no man's land following the declaration of independence by the Catalan President on 10 October and its immediate suspension by Puigdemont (see EUROPE 11880).
Recently, the President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, nailed his colours to the mast, stating that the Commission would not play a mediation role in the Catalan crisis and speaking against Catalan independence, which has the potential to parcel up the EU into “98 member states” (see EUROPE 11883). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansons and Lucas Tripoteau)