“They won't recognise us until the last moment”

Parliament has just passed a new law of foreign affairs and relations with the EU. What has improved.?
Catalans do not have a legal status. This is a pioneering law because so far no other region or decentralised area of Europe has set about defining its status in regards to coordinating external relations as well as projection.

And this is one of the first things to be changed in an independent Catalonia?
Yes, but we have to start defending our postures now. Traditionally the foreign affairs of the German Lands or Belgian regions have been handled at state level so what we are doing is something completely different.

Is there a danger of this being taken to the constitutional court?
Our approach, and this has been confirmed by the committee of statutory guarantees, is that we are well within our constitutional rights on this issue.

Central government is controlling every single public event overseas, most recently last Thursday in Rome. Are the efforts to boycott intensifying?
I doubt they could become more intense. There is a lot of hostility. Catalonlia is well established in international bodies and there are many Catalan civil servants in positions of responsibility internationally but from the actions and diplomatic instructions from the ministry, you would think that Catalonia is not even a part of Europe.

Would the results of a plebiscite be recognised?
I am convinced that this is imperative because without it the Catalan government does not really know what support independence has and there has to be a legal mechanism to clear this up. Once there are figures in hand, then we would know how strong our position is.

Do they understand the government's intransigence?
I sense things are becoming too drawn out and they do not understand how a state's attorney can charge elected officials with breaking the law without looking for a democratic solution. They see this as a political question and not a judicial one.

Could this play in Catalonia's favour?
Yes. We have followed all the democratic steps possible and there has been no movement from Madrid. They see that there has to be an end to this.

President Mas' plan for a unitarian front has not been accepted by ERC.

Mas sees the next elections as producing a clear mandate that cannot be doubted by anyone. ERC and other groups feel that a unified objective can be defended by party-based elections. What is most important internationally is that there is no doubt whatsoever as to the results and the wishes of the people of Catalonia.

Is there a possibility of external mediation?
We have to wait and see because that depends on the willingness of Madrid to be involved.

When could the country ask for recognition?
Straight after the elections we would seek recognition from Spain, the EU and other countries. From that point on there would be a timeline established and negotiations would begin. There is a change in action but this is not simply a declaration of independence, that is a final step and it will not happen until after the elections. This will not be possible in 2015