Junqueras to advance pro-independence referendum depending on Spanish decisions towards Catalonia

Barcelona (CNA).- Catalan Vice President and Minister for Economy and Tax Office, Oriol Junqueras warned that the date of the pro-independence referendum in Catalonia “will be determined” by the decisions made by Spain’s executive. “If the Spanish Government accelerates decisions against the Catalan institutions, we should find a solution somehow”, he stated this Friday in an interview with Catalunya Ràdio. Junqueras also lamented that the supposed willingness to dialogue expressed by Spanish President, Mariano Rajoy, and his government started by proceeding with the prosecution against Parliament’s President, Carme Forcadell, for allowing the Chamber to debate on independence. The statements made this Friday by Catalan Vice President arrived after Spanish Minister for Justice, Rafael Catalá, said that an independence referendum “doesn’t fit within Spain’s constitutional model” and therefore “won’t take place”.

Junqueras warned that “when” the referendum will take place will depend on Spain’s newest legal attacks against Catalonia, which he said will have to be “responded to”. In this vein, he assured that “the best way to respond” to such attacks “is through the most powerful democratic asset: the parliamentarian majority and the referendum”.

Although he didn’t reveal a concrete date for the referendum, Junqueras assured that it will be “close” to the passing of the Law on Legal Transience in order to guarantee the maximum legal coverage for Catalan citizens.

Catalan Government Spokeswoman refuses to “advance situations”

Junquera’s position diverges from that of the Catalan Government’s Spokeswoman, Neus Munté. In an interview with CNA earlier this week, Munté dismissed accelerating the referendum because “there is no certainty” that any public servant will be banned from office before next autumn. “I don’t want to advance situations yet, we have to focus on what we have immediately ahead, work for the referendum to take place and guarantee that the budget can be passed”.

However, Munté admitted that if there are any new events to come, especially regarding the suspension of elected representatives, those parties that support Catalonia’s independence should “agree” on a new situation. 

Spanish Minister for Justice assures that the referendum “won’t take place”

Spanish Minister for Justice, Rafael Catalá, warned on Thursday that the pro-independence referendum in Catalonia “doesn’t fit within Spain’s constitutional model”. “The referendum exists but always within the competences of the organiser”, he stated at an EU Ministers for Justice meeting. “Since the independence of a party of the territory is not foreseen in our Constitution, this referendum won’t take place”, he stated. Catalá also emphasised that “the pertinent parties responsible” will find “ways of agreement and dialogue” to prevent anybody “from breaking the law and therefore forcing the situation to be resolved by the courts”.