Spanish president vows to “restore confidence” with Catalonia

Spanish president Pedro Sánchez said on Saturday that he will work to "restore confidence" between Madrid and the Catalan government. The Socialist leader said he wants to open a "bilateral dialogue" with Catalan president Quim Torra to "solve problems."

Sánchez did not say whether he would be willing to discuss self-determination –as urged by Catalan officials- but he promised to re-examine laws passed by the Catalan Parliament that are currently suspended because they were challenged in the Constitutional Court by the previous Spanish executive.

"These laws can obviously be examined by the Spanish government in the framework of a bilateral dialogue with the Catalan executive," he said during a press conference in Paris with French president Emmanuel Macron.

Dozens of laws, some regarding climate change, energy poverty or equality between men and women, were challenged by the PP government on the grounds that they were beyond the powers of the Catalan government. Pro-independence officials, but also MPs from other parties, criticized this, as they said it hampers Catalonia's ability to address pressing problems such as social inequality.

Sánchez also celebrated a "willingness by everyone in trying to normalize relations" between Catalonia and Spain. He did so after Catalan leader Quim Torra decided to attend the inauguration of the Mediterranean Games, where he also met with Spain's king.

Torra, however, said that he and his ministers will not attend events organized by the Spanish monarchy and will not invite the king to activities organized by the Catalan executive.

The Spanish president admitted solutions won't come quickly, but promised to work towards "normalizing" relations.

Sánchez and Torra are expected to meet in Madrid on July 9.