PP 'worried' with new Spanish government's attitude towards Catalonia

The new Spanish government strategy towards pro-independence politicians is "worrying", according to the former ruling party in Spain, the PP. The leader of the PP in Catalonia, Xavier García Albiol, said on Monday that the new Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, aims "to be liked" by pro-independence groups.

"We are surprised, and worried," said García Albiol, adding that the PSOE of today "is not that of three or four weeks ago, which supported the measures of the PP government, that stood up in front of pro-independence politicians and that even suggested strong measures to guarantee the respect for the rule of law."

According to García-Albiol, the PSOE government is taking "actions" and saying things that go "in the opposite direction" to what it did and said while it was in the opposition. "This willingness to be liked by pro-independence politicians has not been met by any action that really helps to diminish tensions and guarantee the respect to the rule of law by separatists," he said.  

The PSOE gave support to the last PP government in applying Article 155 of the Constitution in Catalonia, which de facto suspended self-rule and meant the sacking of the whole cabinet and the dissolution of Parliament.

Since getting into power following a motion of no-confidence against Mariano Rajoy, the new Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, has said he is willing to meet Catalan leader Quim Torra. Some of his ministers have also publicly admitted they would see with good eyes transferring Catalan prisoners to jails in Catalonia, while others insisted on the need for dialogue. However, the new Spanish government has always insisted that self-determination is ruled out of any negotiations.