Has Madrid finally crushed Catalonia's dream of independence?
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Carles Puigdemont, the fugitive former president of Catalonia, appeared to suffer a moment of doubt this week, reportedly telling a colleague that Madrid had won, ending the struggle for independence from Spain, and possibly his hopes for re-election.
Puigdemont told fellow fugitive lawmaker, Toni Comin: "We are seeing the last days of republican Catalonia. The plan of Moncloa [the Spanish prime minister's official residence in Madrid] has won,” in a text message, broadcast by Spain’s Telecinco TV on Tuesday,
Responding to the publication of his private text messages on Wednesday, Puigdemont tried to reassure his followers.
"I am human and there are times that I also doubt. I am also the President and I will not step down out of respect, gratitude and my commitment for the citizens and the country. We keep going!” he tweeted.
Madrid seized control of the Catalonia region in late October after its independence referendum, which the Spanish government deemed illegal and unconstitutional. Madrid faced condemnation as police violently put down pro-independence street protests and arrested several separatist politicians.
Although Puigdemont was himself re-elected as a lawmaker in December, Spain's Constitutional Court ruled on Saturday he could only be re-elected regional president if he physically attended the parliament in Barcelona. With an arrest warrant for "sedition" still hanging over him, he would require special court permission to re-enter the country.
Puigdemont remains in self-imposed exile in Belgium and will face an extradition hearing. On Tuesday, the Catalan parliament postponed indefinitely a session in which he was set to be re-elected. There are now calls to find a different candidate for the presidency.
With Puigdemont seemingly abandoned by his allies, the pro-independence movement finds itself at a critical juncture – without a president and without a new regional government.
The deadlock could mean yet another round of regional elections – the third in just two-and-a-half years.
With its own language, distinct regional culture and strong economy, separatists are intent on making Catalonia an independent state. Spain and its European allies, however, say there is no mandate for independence.
Puigdemont told fellow fugitive lawmaker, Toni Comin: "We are seeing the last days of republican Catalonia. The plan of Moncloa [the Spanish prime minister's official residence in Madrid] has won,” in a text message, broadcast by Spain’s Telecinco TV on Tuesday,
Responding to the publication of his private text messages on Wednesday, Puigdemont tried to reassure his followers.
"I am human and there are times that I also doubt. I am also the President and I will not step down out of respect, gratitude and my commitment for the citizens and the country. We keep going!” he tweeted.
Sóc periodista i sempre he entès que hi ha límits, com la privacitat, que mai s’han de violar. Sóc humà i hi ha moments que també jo dubto. També sóc el President i no m’arronsaré ni em faré enrere, per respecte, agraïment i compromís amb els ciutadans i el país. Seguim!
— Carles Puigdemont 🎗 (@KRLS) January 31, 2018
Madrid seized control of the Catalonia region in late October after its independence referendum, which the Spanish government deemed illegal and unconstitutional. Madrid faced condemnation as police violently put down pro-independence street protests and arrested several separatist politicians.
In a bid to defuse tensions, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for a round of snap regional elections in December. Far from quelling demands for independence, however, separatist parties won a fresh majority, re-energizing the movement.
Although Puigdemont was himself re-elected as a lawmaker in December, Spain's Constitutional Court ruled on Saturday he could only be re-elected regional president if he physically attended the parliament in Barcelona. With an arrest warrant for "sedition" still hanging over him, he would require special court permission to re-enter the country.
Puigdemont remains in self-imposed exile in Belgium and will face an extradition hearing. On Tuesday, the Catalan parliament postponed indefinitely a session in which he was set to be re-elected. There are now calls to find a different candidate for the presidency.
With Puigdemont seemingly abandoned by his allies, the pro-independence movement finds itself at a critical juncture – without a president and without a new regional government.
The deadlock could mean yet another round of regional elections – the third in just two-and-a-half years.
With its own language, distinct regional culture and strong economy, separatists are intent on making Catalonia an independent state. Spain and its European allies, however, say there is no mandate for independence.