Catalonia Politics: Four months after Catalan elections, a political stalemate continues

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April 21 marks four months since Catalans went to the polls in a mass turnout, only to vote in - again - a pro-independence majority in the Catalan regional parliament. Pro-independence forces in parliament have tried to vote in Catalan leaders who are either in exile or in jail. If there's no deal soon, there could be new elections again this summer. CGTN's Al Goodman reports.

At this Barcelona market, they know about making deals. Every day. Bartering, haggling, but doing deals. So what puzzles many here is the stalemate between Catalonia and Spain. Four months after parties that want independence from Spain again won a narrow majority in Catalan parliament, there's still no new government. And Madrid's extraordinary intervention of the region remains in force.

The political turmoil is not good for business, says this man who's been at the market for 40 years.

LUIS LAMIEL MARKET VENDOR "Sales are down at least 10 percent. Why? I think it's because of the political instability."

This gourmet olive oil seller says the problem is politicians who can't make a deal.

DANIEL MERCADÉ MARKET VENDOR "They just blame each other. What they need to do is less of the blame game and communicate more."

Catalonia, and its capital, Barcelona, may look like usual - a magnet for tourism, among other things - but the signs of trouble are abundant. The headquarters of the Catalan vice president has signs out front calling for freedom - of the ousted vice president. He's in prison in Madrid on charges of sedition.

AL GOODMAN BARCELONA "Also right here, seven months ago, a large pro-independence demonstration was considered by Spanish prosecutors to be intimidation against Spanish officials inside the building. Two pro-independence leaders were arrested for that, and are still in jail in Madrid awaiting trial on rebellion charges."

The ousted Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, is in Germany, fighting extradition to Spain, where he would stand trial.

This Catalan parliament member just returned from seeing Puigdemont in Berlin.

FRANCESC DE DALMASES TOGETHER FOR CATALONIA COALITION "Sometimes it's easy to blame these political parties, the ones that are here in this parliament. But we have to insist to blame the Spanish government, the Spanish justice who's not respecting our leaders."

But this parliament member wants Catalonia to stay in Spain and says the other side must change course.

DAVID MEJÍA CITIZENS PARTY "The way for the two sides to come together is for the pro-independence parties to accept the current law in Spain."

The two sides have until May 22nd to make a deal. If not, there'll be new elections. In the summer. Which also may not end the stalemate. Al Goodman, CGTN, Barcelona.