Catalan president calls for independence referendum in Financial Times op-ed

Catalan President Pere Aragonès called for an independence referendum and urged Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to be "courageous" in an op-ed in the Financial Times.  

Aragonès asked Sánchez to go beyond conciliatory words and show commitment to resolving the sovereignty conflict with Catalonia.   

He also warned that the Spanish prime minister's willingness to negotiate should not be a "short-term party interest" to ensure his investiture and the continuity of his government.  

"Sánchez must fulfill his commitments and we will make sure he does," the Catalan president added, saying he would not be intimidated by anyone or anything because the referendum's cause is "just."

The Catalan president also defended the legality of the amnesty bill, which will be debated in Congress today. Aragonès said the law was a "historic opportunity" and "in line with the Spanish and European rule of law."

"Catalonia is ready to win or lose a referendum. But we cannot be asked to do what no one should be asked to do, which is to give up our national rights," Aragonès added.