Catalan leaders ask Spain to ‘respect’ Gibraltar

"All of us lose with Brexit, but regarding Gibraltar, Spain wins." Spanish president Pedro Sánchez was exultant after Saturday's summit on Brexit, in which Brussels pledged to include Spain in any territorial agreements that might affect the British enclave at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula.

In fact, the Spanish premier insisted the agreements open the possibility for discussing shared sovereignty for the Rock - as Gibraltar is often referred to, due to its most notable landmark. The UK and Gibraltar flatly reject to discuss sovereignty. 

This stance was deeply criticized by the Catalan government spokeswoman and parliament president, who both demanded that Spain respect Gibraltar’s will.

Gibraltar rejected shared sovereignty in 2002, reminds Catalan government

Back in 2002, Gibraltarians overwhelmingly voted against shared sovereignty (98.9% of the voters), something that cabinet member Elsa Artadi noted on Saturday.

“It is unprecedented that Spain questions democracy again,” she said.

Her remarks were supported by the chamber speaker, Roger Torrent, who said: “The free will of citizens has to be respected.”

Before the agreement over Brexit was accepted on Sunday, the Catalan government had already denounced Madrid threatening to veto the whole Brexit deal due to the Gibraltar issue.