Catalan process to culminate in declaration

Following Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, President Puigdemont has held meetings with government officials, representatives of parliamentary groups, parties and separatist organisations and also with figures such as former presidents Artur Mas and José Montilla.

The cabinet meeting itself made it clear who supported of a declaration of independence (DI) and who was in favour of calling elections. More than one source identified PdeCat members Santi Villa and Meritxell Borràs, and from ERC, Carles Mundó and Toni Comín as not in favour of a declaration. Comín and Mundó have denied those reports. CUP later issued a statement warning the government against calling elections.

Reliable sources agreed yesterday that the debate today and tomorrow will see a declaration of independence. ERC’s Oriol Junqueras said what is most important was to culminate the independence process and that the constituent elections included in the roadmap could wait for later.

Last minute attempts by the PSC to convince the president that convoking early elections would see an end to the imposition of Article 155 failed and Carles Puigdemont tweeted later that it would be a waste of time to attend a Senate debate where the decision to take control of the Generalitat had already been made.