Torra's speech “ignores half of Catalonia,” says opposition leader

The leader of the opposition in Catalonia, Inés Arrimadas, reacted to President Quim Torra's speech on Tuesday evening to relaunch the independence campaign by accusing him of "ignoring half of Catalonia."

Arrimadas said the head of the executive "is putting institutions at the service of the independence movement, raising tension on the streets, and strengthening the propaganda abroad and disobedience [to Spanish law]."

The leader of the unionist Ciutadans party (Cs) in Catalonia also appealed to the Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, to "react and protect" citizens.

Spain's cabinet spokeswoman Isabel Celaá also reacted to the speech, calling on Torra to "take steps towards" engaging in dialogue with Madrid.

The spokeswoman coincided with Arrimadas in saying that Torra's speech was only focused on citizens supporting independence and she reminded the Catalan president that he will have to abide by the future verdict on the prosecuted political leaders no matter what.

Yet in his speech, Torra insisted he would not accept any verdict other than one allowing the prisoners to go free. "Either freedom or freedom," he said.

Socialists reject self-determination vote

Nor was the Catalan Socialist party (PSC) positive about Torra's speech. Spokeswoman, Eva Granados, accused Torra of "returning to paths that lead to failure," in his attempt to relaunch the independence roadmap.