Pressure rises on Catalan regional premier ahead of parliament session

The regional premier has always been pro-independence and few doubt his commitment to acting on the results of the referendum. On last night’s 30 Minutes, on regional public TV channel TV-3, Puigdemont did not give details of his immediate plans after the referendum or whether he will declare independence in parliament on Tuesday. TV-3 broadcast a preview of the report that included this statement from the politician: “A declaration of independence is provided for by the referendum law based on the results, so we will apply what the law allows.” However, this phrase did not appear in the final program.

We have said yes to mediation, but the days pass and if the Spanish state does not respond positively, we will do what we have come to do Catalan regional premier Carles Puigdemont

The show closed with an appeal from Puigdemont to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to accept mediation. “We have opened the door to mediation and we have said yes to as many options of mediation as we have been asked. But the days pass and if the Spanish state does not respond positively, we will do what we have come to do.”

The protest yesterday in Barcelona in favor of a unified Spain put more pressure on the possible declaration of independence. The secessionist government looked on “with respect” as people who oppose succession mobilized – the scenes yesterday showed that the street is not just for the secessionists.

The secrecy of the regional government with regard to its plans for Tuesday’s session in parliament were dealt a blow on Sunday after the head of the PDeCAT party, Marta Pascal, told a BBC reporter that the Catalan leader would opt for a “symbolic declaration.” Puigdemont would recognize the validity of the referendum results before the legislative body, but would not make a formal declaration of independence. He would then outline the road map that they will follow to achieve secession from Spain. Last night, party sources said they had asked for a rectification from the British media outlet for what they considered a “misinterpretation” of the conversation with Pascal.

Pressure for the declaration of independence not to be declared is coming from all sides. Former regional premier Artur Mas admitted on Friday in an interview with UK daily the Financial Times that Catalonia was not ready to be independent, as it lacked basic state structures and its own treasury.

If there is a declaration of independence, a series of Catalan companies would follow in moving their legal headquarters

The plan is not a simple one to implement and even within PDeCAT there are doubts about the timings. The regional government took a few days last week to try and reorganize their script, while advocating for international mediation to restore institutional normality between the central government and Catalonia. They are also dissatisfied with the response from Brussels regarding the Catalan conflict. The conviction is that everything is “on the brink” – “We have never gone so far” – but the utmost care must be taken with the next steps.

The secessionist attempts have clashed head-on with economic powers. A week ago, there were six Catalan companies in Spain’s benchmark Ibex 35 stock market index, and it is possible that today there will only be one left. Abertis, Colonial, and Cellnex will decide on Monday if they want to move their legal headquarters out of Catalonia, following the lead of Gas Natural, Caixabank, and Banco Sabadell.

The situation is so delicate that Puigdemont met with Juan José Brugera, the president of the Círculo de Economía, the business lobby that brings together big business and Catalan economists and academics. Brugera expressed concern about the situation and warned that if the premier went ahead with his plans for a declaration of independence a series of Catalan companies would follow in moving elsewhere.

Sources familiar with the meeting say Puigdemont was aware of the situation. This contrasts with statements from deputy premier, Oriol Junqueras, who last week denied that companies from Catalonia were going to move if there was a break with Spain.

English version by Debora Almeida.