Munté criticizes Spain’s “lack of responses” and insists referendum will be held

Barcelona (ACN).- Catalan Government Spokeswoman, Neus Munté, complained about the Spanish Government's “gross ignorance” of the reality of the situation in Catalonia and considered its “lack of responses” to be the reason why Catalans are calling for a referendum on independence. “We are here as a result of the Spanish Government’s lack of responses and its lack of a project for Catalonia,” said Munté, lamenting Spain’s repeated refusal to negotiate on a referendum. The Catalan Government spokeswoman also emphasized the need to "set the date and the question of the referendum". She made these statements on Monday, after attending the cross-party meeting to assess Spain’s refusal to negotiate a referendum with Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont.

“The Spanish Government doesn’t want to open a dialogue,” complained Munté, adding that “the Spanish Government has failed to offer answers to Catalonia over the last five years”. According to Munté, the Spanish Government is not aware of the reality in the Catalan Parliament and among its citizens and that’s why they refuse to open a dialogue. Moreover, she accused the Spanish executive of “underestimating the broad support” of the referendum demand.

She underscored the Government’s commitment to call a referendum with or without Spain’s consent.  “We are asking for a very concrete thing: to vote, to hold a referendum,” she said, adding that this is the “irrevocable commitment of the Catalan executive”.

‘Catalunya Sí que es Pot’ didn’t attend the meeting

Munté also lamented the absence of alternative left alliance ‘Catalunya Sí que es Pot’ at the meeting held this Monday between all those parties in favor of a referendum. The party’s general coordinator, Xavier Domènech, said that “what is urgently needed” is a meeting of the National Pact of the Referendum rather than a “governmental meeting”. 

“They have excluded themselves using the National Pact for the Referendum as an excuse,” said Munté.

“Respect” from the Spanish Government for all those who suport referendum

Munté also commented on Spanish VP, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, statements regarding this Monday’s summit.

“The Government demands respect from the Spanish State Government for all those political options that differ from its own”, she said, addressing Spanish VP. She considered her comments “very serious” and criticized that she had “contrasted holding a referendum with listening to the people.” 

Before the meeting was held, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said that the summit showed that the Catalan Government was “led by the radicals” of the left-wing CUP, which “impose their calendar and strategy”. Sáenz de Santamaría insisted that the referendum should be discussed in the Spanish Congress instead. “A self-determination referendum is unnegotiable. Nevertheless such an initiative cannot be discussed behind closed-doors, it needs to be discussed in Congress, while listening to everyone that has something to say about it,” she said.