Spanish PM mulls applying constitutional powers to stop Catalonia independence

Sensing that force may not stop Catalonia from attempting to declare independence, Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, is seriously considering the use constitutional powers to remove Catalonia’s autonomous status.

The Spanish Prime Minister revealed that much during an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais on Saturday.

Rajoy when asked if he was ready to trigger the article 155 of the constitution, said: “I don’t rule out absolutely anything that is within the law … Ideally, it shouldn’t be necessary to implement extreme solutions but for that not to happen things would have to be changed.”

Read also: Spanish court blocks move by Catalonia’s parliament to declare independence

Unrest in Spain has prompted calls from the European Commission for Catalan and Spanish leaders to find a political solution, with the political stand-off dividing the country.

“I hope that the Catalonia that makes pacts, is moderate and for many years contributed to Spain’s economic growth and improvement in welfare and wealth returns. It can’t be in the hands of extremists, the radicals and the (far-left secessionist party) CUP,” he said.

Thousands of demonstrators reportedly marched through 50 Spanish cities dressed in white, carrying banners calling for peace and dialogue between leaders as Catalonia prepares to declare independence.

In Barcelona, protesters chanted “let’s talk” in Catalan, while many carried signs criticising political leaders for not finding a diplomatic solution to the impasse.

 

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now