Ousted Catalan leader ready to meet PM outside Spain

World
Europe

Catalonia's ousted leader Carles Puigdemont said on Friday that he is ready to meet Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy outside of the country.

"I am willing to meet Mr Rajoy in Brussels or in any other location in the EU, so long as it is not in the Spanish state, for obvious reasons," said Puigdemont.

Puigdemont made the remark during a press conference in Brussels after the regional election, which gave pro-independence parties an outright majority in the parliament.

At a news conference in response to the new election result, Rajoy said, "elections are always a fresh start for democracy," and he is "sure Catalan is now entering a period of dialogue."

The ousted leader, currently exiled in Belgium, also said political solutions should be found to solve the crisis in Catalonia.

"I am willing to do this because we need to address a new political phase which is beginning in Catalonia and Spain and Europe. And it must be a stage managed with political solutions," said Puigdemont.

Rajoy urged the new Catalan government to abide by the law, adding that the Spanish government will make an effort to open dialogue.

7971km