Mas offers “alliance” if Rajoy approves referendum
"We are asking you to allow us to vote," regional leader says in his year-end address
In his year-end address, Catalan regional premier Artur Mas on Monday offered to become "a great ally" if Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy allows Catalans to vote next year in a status referendum.
"We are asking you to allow us to vote," Mas said. "And we don't want the [Spanish] state to see us as an adversary, and much less as an enemy. When we could we have always been - and want to continue, now and in the future - an ally, a great ally."
After he told the Italian daily La Repubblica on Friday that an independent Catalonia would remain outside the European Union, the regional premier has been trying to temper any pessimism among the separatists' ranks.
The pro-independence parties have insisted that Mas look for formulas outside the European Union treaty that would allow Catalonia to remain in the bloc, and which could help an independent Scotland as well.
Rajoy has said that the referendum will not take place.
Tu suscripción se está usando en otro dispositivo
¿Quieres añadir otro usuario a tu suscripción?
Si continúas leyendo en este dispositivo, no se podrá leer en el otro.
FlechaTu suscripción se está usando en otro dispositivo y solo puedes acceder a EL PAÍS desde un dispositivo a la vez.
Si quieres compartir tu cuenta, cambia tu suscripción a la modalidad Premium, así podrás añadir otro usuario. Cada uno accederá con su propia cuenta de email, lo que os permitirá personalizar vuestra experiencia en EL PAÍS.
¿Tienes una suscripción de empresa? Accede aquí para contratar más cuentas.
En el caso de no saber quién está usando tu cuenta, te recomendamos cambiar tu contraseña aquí.
Si decides continuar compartiendo tu cuenta, este mensaje se mostrará en tu dispositivo y en el de la otra persona que está usando tu cuenta de forma indefinida, afectando a tu experiencia de lectura. Puedes consultar aquí los términos y condiciones de la suscripción digital.
