CATALUNYA'S regional president Carles Puigdemont says a referendum on independence will be held this year 'whether or not the Spanish government agrees'.
During a meeting in Brussels today (Tuesday), the pro-secessionist leader told European Union officials that he hopes Spain will give the nod to the poll, but that if this is not the case, Catalunya will cast its ballot 'by September at the latest' with or without the go-ahead from Madrid.
This could lead to Puigdemont's being found guilty of sedition, which can even carry a prison sentence, so is not a decision to be taken lightly.
“I wish to make it clear that we do want the referendum to be approved by the Spanish government; this would be the most acceptable option for everyone – but if they maintain their current position, Catalunya will call a binding independence referendum in any case,” Puigdemont stated, speaking in the European Parliamentary lhall.
The conference, attended by Puigdemont's deputy president Oriol Junqueras, and regional minister for foreign affairs Raúl Romeva, was an extraordinary meeting not included in the official Parliamentary agenda but nevertheless attracted a roomful of politicians from all over the continent.
In fact, it was practically standing-room only with more than 400 people present, all of whom applauded the speakers.
The three MEPs who organised the session – Catalunya Left Republicans Josep Maria Terricabras and Jordi Solé, and Convergència's Ramón Tremosa – were joined by their colleagues in Brussels, ICV's Ernest Urtasun, for the Basque Country; Josu Juaristi from the Basque separatist party EH-Bildu; Xabi Benito from left-wing Podemos; Francesc Gambús from Catalunya's pro-independence party Unió; Lidia Senra from the Galicia-based Alternativa Galega; and – given the northern European region's shared interest with Catalunya's planned move in light of the Brexit vote, Alyn Smith from the Scottish National Party (SNP), currently in power in the UK territory under its leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
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