Spain: self-determination referendum rejected
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Spain's PM Pedro Sanchez says the Socialist Party will "never accept this kind of drift" of Catalonia's independence-demanding region and will resume negotiations with Madrid in September.
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez receives President of Catalonia Pere Aragonès (AFP).
On Wednesday, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that the socialists would "never" accept a referendum for self-determination in Catalonia, a key demand of Catalan separatists, and negotiations will be resumed with Madrid next September.
During a session of the House of Representatives, Sanchez stated, "There will be no referendum for self-determination," and added that the Socialist Party, which he holds the position of its Secretary-General, "will never accept this kind of drift."
In this context, Sanchez explained that to organize a referendum for self-determination, "those who defend it must persuade three-fifths of the votes of this chamber, to amend Article 2 of the Spanish Constitution" and that "the Spanish men and women should ratify this amendment through a referendum."
It is worth noting that making this constitutional amendment is out of the question to due to the opposition of the three most prominent political forces in the parliament (the Socialist Party, the conservative party, and the far-right Vox party).
The statements of Spain’s Minister come the day after his first official meeting with the President of the new Catalonia region, the moderate separatist Pere Aragonès, who announced at the end of this meeting that resuming dialogue on the political conflict between the two governments will take place in the third week of next September, in Barcelona.
Aragonès told the international press in Madrid that a referendum must be held; otherwise, the conflict will continue, expressing his regret that currenly there is no "suggestion" on this regard from the Spanish government.
The Catalan leader also welcomed Madrid's desire to give the region more capabilities and encourage investment in its infrastructure. However, "this will not lead to a solution to the underlying political conflict," he noted.
The Catalan regional authorities headed by Carles Puigdemont held a referendum on independence despite it being banned by Madrid. A few weeks later, the region's leaders declared independence. The Spanish government responded by removing the regional government and bringing the province under its control.
