Politics
mariano rajoy
Politics
Scottish Parliament members accuse Rajoy of “violation of the norms of European democracy”
Politics
Spanish parties united against referendum
Politics
Spanish president challenges opposition to vote him out over corruption accusations
Politics
Rajoy denies all knowledge of illegal party funding
In first court appearance by a sitting Spanish president, the leader of the People's Party insists he had only “political responsibilities” and knew “absolutely” nothing about financial matters
Politics
Mariano Rajoy to become first Spanish president before a court in recent history
Head of government to testify in one of largest corruption scandals in history of democracy in Spain
Politics
Spanish president dismisses Catalan independence vote as 'authoritarian delusions'
Rajoy insists October 1 vote will not take place while vice president warns courts can freeze referendum bill in 24 hours
Politics
German CDU think tank urges solving of Catalan issue before ‘it’s too late’
Politics
PP and PSOE united against Catalan referendum
The two main Spanish parties are frontally opposed to the celebration of an independence referendum in Catalonia and their leaders will fight together against the Catalan government plans’ to hold one. In a phone conversation on Monday, the Spanish President and leader of the People’s Party (PP), Mariano Rajoy, and the re-elected leader of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), Pedro Sánchez, discussed their united front against a self-determination vote in Catalonia. “The PSOE will defend the legality and the Constitution,” confirmed the Spanish Vice President, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, in a press conference in Madrid, where she briefed journalists about the two leaders’ conversation. According to her, the Socialists are “against the illegal referendum being planned by the Catalan Government” and will block “any attempt” to “violate” the Spanish Constitution. Sáenz de Santamaría also insisted that a self-determination referendum is “unnegotiable” but again urged the Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, to present his plans in the Spanish Congress.
Politics
Rajoy’s ‘no’ to negotiation “won’t help solve” the stalemate between Catalonia and Spain
The Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, admitted on Thursday that he was disappointed by the Spanish President's negative answer to his invitation to begin negotiations about an independence referendum. “It is not the answer that we were hoping for, and it won’t help solve the conflict,” said Puigdemont during the inauguration of an economic conference in Sitges. Mariano Rajoy warned the Catalan President that negotiations on the referendum are “impossible” and that he will “not allow” him to “unilaterally liquidate the Spanish Constitution, Spain’s unity and national sovereignty”. Rajoy suggested to Puigdemont that he present his referendum plans before Congress. The Catalan President insisted that Catalans have already done so on “numerous occasions”, always to find their proposals turned down. The leader of the opposition in Catalonia, unionist Inés Arrimadas, said that the Catalan Government is “trapped” and cannot continue with its independence plans.
Politics
Rajoy’s answer to Catalonia: referendum negotiation “impossible”
Spanish President, Mariano Rajoy, needed less than 24 hours to reject his Catalan counterpart’s petition to start discussions for the celebration of an independence referendum. “It is impossible,” Rajoy warned Carles Puigdemont, urging him to present his petition before the Spanish Congress instead. “It is not possible to seek to negotiate against the true democratic mechanisms and against the law,” added the Spanish President. Despite saying that he has a “total and sincere” willingness to “reach agreements” with Catalonia, Rajoy pointed out there are “limits” on the issues he can discuss. “Neither you nor I have the authority to negotiate what we do not have the power to negotiate,” he insisted, adding that doing so would “mean hijacking the rights of the Spanish people”. Rajoy said that the Spanish rule of law “foresees mechanisms for presenting all kinds of political aspirations” if they follow “democratic channels” and “obtain the required parliamentary support”. The Spanish President also warned Puigdemont that his plans to go ahead with a vote or even a hypothetical declaration of independence are “a serious threat to coexistence and the constitutional order”.
Politics
British MPs accuse Rajoy of breaching freedom of speech by prosecuting Forcadell
Business
Rajoy's promises to Catalonia absent from budget
Politics
Rajoy promises investing on infrastructures to weaken independence aspirations
Politics