_
_
_
_
CATALAN INDEPENDENCE BID

King Felipe warns Catalan leader that respecting the law is “unavoidable”

Monarch believes Artur Mas is set in his plans for independence if his bloc wins election

Alfonso L. Congostrina
King Felipe VI (l) with Artur Mas in Barcelona on Thursday.
King Felipe VI (l) with Artur Mas in Barcelona on Thursday.Albert García

King Felipe VI on Thursday reminded Catalan regional premier Artur Mas about the importance of respecting the laws in a democratic regime.

The Spanish monarch made his remarks a few days after Mas announced his intention of proclaiming independence if his pro-sovereignty bloc wins a majority of votes at the regional election scheduled for September 27.

There is no democracy without respect for the law”

Carlos Lesmes, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

“For the judiciary, as for all other state institutions, respect for the law is not, nor should it ever be, a mere formality or an alternative,” he said. “At its deepest level, respecting the law is a source of legitimacy and an unavoidable requirement for democratic coexistence in peace and freedom.”

Speaking in Barcelona before a group of newly appointed judges at an event that was also attended by the regional premier and new city mayor Ada Colau, Felipe VI defended the Spanish Constitution of 1978, calling it “our fundamental law, one that has presided one of the longest periods of stability in our history.”

But it was not just the king who took the opportunity to remind his audience about the importance of the rule of law.

More information
Felipe VI becomes the new king of Spain
Catalan parties planning to declare independence after election win
The silent Catalans start to speak out
Spanish PM: “There will be no Catalan independence”

“There is no democracy without respect for the law,” said Carlos Lesmes, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Felipe VI and Artur Mas held a one-hour face-to-face meeting on Friday of last week inside La Zarzuela royal palace in Madrid. Following the meeting, the monarch told the regional premier of Cantabria that the Catalan leader’s attitude was “unmovable” and that he seemed to have no intention of slowing down his plans for secession.

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.

¿Por qué estás viendo esto?

Flecha

Tu 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.

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.

More information

Recomendaciones EL PAÍS
Recomendaciones EL PAÍS
_
_