'Puigdemont had no intention of declaring independence,' Basque president tells court
"Mediator" Iñigo Urkullu says Spanish government would not "guarantee" that self-rule would not be imposed on Catalonia
urkullu
Basque leader 'mediator' testifies in Catalan trial
Barcelona mayor and former Spanish home affairs minister also to testify in day 9 of the proceedings
Basque leader backs jailed Catalan leaders and self-determination
President of Catalonia Quim Torra demands “bilateral meeting” with Spanish executive
Basque Country and Catalonia to work together against Rajoy’s recentralisation
The Spanish Government is carrying out “increased recentralisation” of powers, according to the President of the Catalan Government, Artur Mas, and that of the Basque Country, Íñigo Urkullu. Catalonia and Euskadi are the main stateless nations within Spain, with most of their citizens calling for greater levels of autonomy or full independence. They are Spain’s main industrial centres and combined they represent 25% of its GDP (€270 billion) and 20.5% of its population (9.7 million people). The President of the Generalitat and the Basque Lehendakari met on Sunday in Vitoria and agreed on “working together” to face the centralist and homogenising policies of the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy. In addition, they will also work to defend their nations’ right to self-determination.