Madrid to keep ruling Catalonia if Puigdemont re-elected

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Europe

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy warned Monday that Madrid would maintain unpopular direct control of Catalonia if the former regional leader Carles Puigdemont tries to govern again from exile in Belgium.

Speaking to party members in Madrid, Rajoy said that Puigdemont had "to be physically present" in Catalonia to take office, and if that didn't happen, the central government would maintain direct rule imposed after Catalan leaders declared independence in October.

Puigdemont fled to Brussels in October after Rajoy fired him as Catalonia's leader when he declared an independent republic following an illegal referendum. He faces arrest and possibly decades in jail if he returns to Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (R) speaks with then President of the Catalan regional government Carles Puigdemont during their visit to the Automobile Barcelona fair in Barcelona, Spain, May 12, 2017. /VCG Photo

With only days before Catalonia's parliament convenes to elect a new regional government, independence supporters said Puigdemont was their candidate to lead the region again. They are exploring the possibility he could do so by video link from Brussels.

But Rajoy on Monday poured scorn on the idea. "It's absurd that someone aspires to be president of the Catalan regional government as a fugitive in Brussels – it's a case of common sense," he said in a speech at his center-right People's Party Madrid headquarters.

If Puigdemont tried to attend the parliamentary vote for a new head of region from Brussels, the Spanish government would challenge his appearance immediately in the courts, he said.

Rajoy said if Puigdemont was re-elected, constitutional powers invoked by the government in October to impose direct rule on the region would continue to apply.

Catalonia's sacked leader Carles Puigdemont delivers a speech during a meeting with Catalan mayors in Brussels, Belgium, November 7, 2017. /VCG Photo

Direct rule on Catalonia is very unpopular in a region that enjoyed considerable autonomy before its leaders attempted to break away from Spain.

Rajoy had called regional elections in December to try and resolve the political crisis that led to an exodus of companies from the region. However, the election returned a slim majority to parties favoring independence, raising the possibility of a renewed push for a split from Spain this year.

The parliament will meet for the first time on January 17 to choose the committee that rules its day-to-day activities. A new leader could be voted in by parliament as early as January 31.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters