Mas won’t call for elections before the deadline

Barcelona (CNA).- “I can’t call elections before the 10^th of January” stated current Catalan President Mas this Tuesday in an interview with Catalunya Radio. The 10^th of January is the last day to constitute a new government, until then cross-party list ‘Junts Pel Sí’ will have to wait for radical left CUP’s final decision on whether to invest Mas or not. “We have to wait, it’s the only option left” he assured. Mas insisted that elections are not his “priority” and warned that CUP could “cause” new elections but not “a change in President” as this would “derail” the pro-independence process. Regarding CUP’s demands for ‘Junts Pel Sí’ to put forward an alternative proposal which may have greater support, Mas assured that they “won’t move” as “‘Junts Pel Sí’s proposal has long been studied and agreed amongst the cross-party list’s members”.  “CUP is within its right to accept it or refuse it, but we also have the right to say this is how far we have come”, he warned.

“If I call elections now I would make a fool of myself” assured President Mas, as up to the 10^th of January “the Parliament’s President could convene the parliamentary groups and they may find the way to instate a new President. And then what? Terrible embarrassment!” he stated. “I can’t call elections before the 10^th of January. Until then, there is life, therefore, we have to wait. It’s the only option left” he admitted. ‘Junts Pel Sí’ will have to wait for CUP’s final decision, after the radical left’s General Assembly, set up to decide on ‘Junts Pel Sí’s proposal and whether to accept Mas’ candidacy for President, ended in a tie. “We will wait patiently, as we have been waiting during these past two months” he assured, referring to the negotiations between both pro-independence parties since the 27-S Catalan Elections.

“CUP could cause elections but not a change in President”

Regarding CUP’s demands for ‘Junts Pel Sí’ to put forward an alternative proposal which may have greater support, Mas assured that CUP could “cause” new elections but not “a change in President” as this would “derail” the pro-independence process. “We won’t move” assured Mas and added that ‘Junts Pel Sí’s proposal “has long been studied and agreed amongst the cross-party list’s members”. “We can’t change the candidate. If we do, what message would we be sending to the citizens? Great decisions can only be made by CUP? How many people will leave the pro-independence project?” he asked rhetorically. “We need all of us to protect this process” he stated and emphasised that CUP only has 10 MPs, and therefore, not enough power to change the President. “CUP is within its right to accept it or refuse it, but we also have the right to say this is how far we have come”, he warned.

Although Mas admitted that “just like many people” he “doesn’t like” the present situation, he insisted that calling elections is not his “priority”. However he admitted that CUP could “cause” them.

Rajoy: A government with CUP will be a disaster

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy urged Mas to reach agreements with other parties or call elections rather than form a government with CUP. According to him, Catalonia is offering “pathetic scenes” while waiting for CUP’s decision and urged Mas to take “a step back” and assume responsibility for the present situation.

The Catalan Government’s spokeswoman, Neus Munté, replied to Rajoy and stated that “he has not understood a thing”. “What is a disaster is Rajoy’s and the Spanish government’s monolithic vision” she chided and criticised his “absolute stagnation” and “lack of democratic will”.