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After Catalonia vote win, Rajoy ready to talk

September 28, 2015

Spain's prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has called for talks with the new Catalan government, after separatist parties win regional polls. But he has refused to discuss the possibility of independence for Catalonia.

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Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy with Catalan leader Artur Mas
Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy (left) with Catalan leader Artur MasImage: Reuters/A. Gea

Responding to a win by pro-independence leader Artur Mas and his allies in Catalonia's election on Sunday, Rajoy said he was ready to "open a dialogue" with the Spanish autonomous region's next government.

But Spain's prime minister said talks must be held "within the law," a reference to the national constitution, which Madrid says forbids independence moves by regions.

"There are many things that can be discussed. But while I am the head of the government, I will not discuss the unity of Spain, the national sovereignty or the freedom of all Spaniards," Rajoy told journalists at a press conference on Monday.

Artur Mas celebrates win
Catalan leader Artur Mas was initially opposed to independence but has championed the cause over the past five yearsImage: Reuters/A. Comas

The "Together for Yes" pro-independence alliance and a small pro-independence party won 72 of the 135 regional parliamentary seats in Sunday's polls.

Before the election, its leaders promised to use their popular mandate to implement a "roadmap" towards an independent Catalan state within 18 months.

Mas claimed the victory now gave his group "enormous strength to push this project forward."

Tough fight ahead

But anti-secession parties say the pro-independence movement won just 48 percent of the popular vote. The turnout was a record 78 percent of 5.5 million voters.

Rajoy has said that any referendum on Catalonia's independence should include voters from the rest of Spain.

However, with his ruling Popular Party (PP) facing defeat in national election, which must be held before the end of the year, Rajoy may need to offer Catalonia's leaders concessions on taxes and spending.

The PP lost eight seats in the Catalan poll, leaving it wiith just eleven MPs in the regional parliament.

Catalan parties celebrate election win
Polls suggest most Catalans want a referendum but are undecided on independence from SpainImage: Reuters/S. Perez

The drive by Spain's richest region to create a new state in Europe has prompted a fierce standoff with the central government in recent months. Many Catalans say the region pays an unfair share of tax to Madrid and loses out in infrastructure spending.

Last November, Mas tried to hold a referendum for the region's independence, but failed after the Spanish Constitutional Court declared such a vote illegal.

EU leaders have suggested that an independent Catalonia would be cut off from the bloc and from the euro currency zone.

mm/kms (AP, AFP, Reuters)