Torra sets November deadline for Spanish president to agree on referendum

President Quim Torra has set November as the deadline for the ongoing talks with Spanish president, Pedro Sánchez, to result in an agreed referendum on self-determination.

In his opening speech of the annual general policy debate in Parliament on Tuesday, the head of the Catalan government warned his Spanish counterpart of the consequences if he ignores the deadline.

"If there is no proposal for a vote on self-determination before November, the independence movement will not be able to guarantee Mr. Pedro Sánchez any stability in Congress," he said.

Sánchez dethroned Mariano Rajoy in the spring with a successful motion of no confidence that was backed by the Catalan pro-independence parties, among others. Without the support of the Esquerra and PDeCAT parties, the Spanish government will lose its majority in the Congress.