Mas letter an “exotic” move with “zero international influence”, say unionists

Barcelona (ACN).- The parties that are against holding the referendum on independence in Catalonia have shown their complete opposition to the letter sent by the Catalan President Artur Mas to all EU leaders, describing it as “exotic”. The letter, sent on the 20th of December, explains the political process in the country and urges EU leaders to encourage a “peaceful, democratic, transparent and European process”. The spokesman of the Socialist Party in the Catalan Parliament, Maurici Lucena, said that the letter will be seen as “an exotic move” in the EU capitals. “It shows a complete lack of understanding of international relations”, criticised Lucena.

“Serious countries, including all EU countries, will see the letter as slightly exotic”, said Lucena to journalist. “This is not the normal way to address” international leaders, added the Socialist. According to him, the Catalan Government should stop acting “in such an inelegant and unprofessional way”.

The deputy spokesman of the Conservatives PPC in the Parliament, Santi Rodríguez, also criticised the letter. From his point of view, the document is “internal propaganda” only aimed at the supporters of independence and will have “zero international influence”. Rodríguez regretted that Mas “tries to discredit the reputation of Spain abroad” by saying that the State does not respect democracy. According to the PP, Mas’ “craziness” in favour of independence is only aimed at “covering up his inability to rule” Catalonia.

The spokesperson of Ciutadans (C’s), Matías Alsono, said the document sounded like a joke from “April Fool’s Day”. He criticised the Catalan Government for conducting politics that were “beyond the law”, promoting the holding of a referendum on independence. 

The vicesecretary general of Institutional Coordination of CiU, Lluís Corominas, regretted that PSC, PPC and C’s had reacted with “insults and contempt” to each and every one of the Catalan President’s moves. According to him, their attitude shows a “low democratic and political profile”. In an interview with the CNA, Corominas asked: what do the unionists have to offer besides “their constant no?”. He added that the agreement reached should not be a surprise for the unionist opposition. “We haven’t lied to anyone, from the start we said we would try to explain our reality”, he stated.

ICV and CUP ask for futher action

In contrast to the PSC, PPC and C’s, the Greens and the Extreme Left have shown their support for the letter, although they have asked Mas for even further action. The secretary general of ICV, Josep Vendrell, said that Mas should not only defend the right of Catalonia to hold a referendum but also “the social rights” of the Catalans. According to Vendrell, Catalonia should become the advocate for “the end of the austerity policy”. The MP from the CUP, Quim Arrufat, said that the “strongest message that the Catalan people can send to the world” is the holding of a referendum on the 9th of November “with or without an agreement with Spain”.