Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis was at the European Parliament on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 October to inform Parliament President Antonio Tajani and the leaders of the political groups of the intentions of the government of Mariano Rajoy.
The visit comes against a particularly tense background, with Madrid announcing on Saturday 21 October that it would trigger Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, suspending the autonomous community of Catalonia and imposing direct rule. Dastis said that it had been with great reluctance that the Spanish government had made that announcement and he said that only one person was responsible for this situation, Carles Puigdemont, President of the Government of Catalonia.
On Tuesday 24 October, the Spanish senate offered Puigdemont the opportunity to come and hold discussions with the government in Madrid – a move seen by Dastis as “a clear signal” allowing the Catalan leader to express his point of view.
Among the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament, the minister met Manfred Weber, the head of the European People’s Party, on Monday 23 October. Weber stated in a press conference that the Spanish government had his full support, not hesitating to describe the situation as “a sort of poison” and condemning the lack of responsibility shown by the Catalan government.
Philippe Lamberts, leader of the Greens/EFA, who also met Puigdemont on Monday, was much more measured in his comments, stating that “it’s not through confrontation that a political solution will be found”. He also called on the parties not to set any preconditions to talks, but acknowledged that he could not rule out that the worst might happen between now and the end of the week – the Catalan government being due to meet on Thursday 26 October.
Leader of the GUE/NGL Group, Gabriele Zimmer, regretted that her group’s proposal for a debate on the situation in Catalonia had not been supported by the other political families. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)