Tag: pro-independence

Pro-separatist Catalan parties back ex-leader for top job

BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) — The two largest pro-independence parties in Catalonia said Tuesday they had agreed to nominate sacked regional leader Carles Puigdemont for president, despite his self-imposed exile in Belgium and Madrid’s insistence he cannot rule remotely. The separatist ERC and Puigdemont’s Together for Catalonia party reached an accord to support him “as a candidate for president of the Catalonia region,” a joint statement said. The central government in Madrid has warned it would maintain direct […]

Axed Catalan leader slams EU for ‘helping’ Spanish PM

by Toni Cerda with Daniel Bosque in Barcelona Agence France-Presse BRUXELLES, Belgium (AFP) — Catalonia’s sacked leader on Tuesday slammed the European Union for backing Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in his bid to quash secession, after calling on pro-independence parties to unite for next month’s regional election. “Will you accept the result of the Catalan referendum or will you continue to help Mr Rajoy in his coup d’etat?” Carles Puigdemont, who was dismissed by Madrid last […]