Puigdemont certifies investiture debate in Madrid means definitive end for third way

BarcelonaDuring an oversight session in parliament last Wednesday, Catalan president Carles Puigdemont insisted that the investiture debate being held in Madrid’s Congress means the definitive end of any possibility of a third way that might allow Catalonia to find a fit within Spain. "We'll keep moving forward, and if anybody has anything to say to us, they'll let us know", noted Puigdemont in response to Jordi Turull, President of the pro-independence Junts pel Sí parliamentary group, in reference to the mandate arising from the 27-S elections.

The president and former mayor of Girona city believes that the possibility of Pedro Sánchez becoming the new Spanish president is “a figment", and finds his government program "disappointing". "It's vague and insufficient with regards to the proposals from our Parliament", said Puidgemont.

Referendum

Puigdemont assured that he will sit down to negotiate, should a new Spanish government be willing to discuss a referendum on independence in Catalonia. This was his answer to Lluís Rabell, leader of Catalunya Sí que Es Pot (CSQEP), who asked of him a more "proactive" attitude towards Madrid so as to facilitate an option for change that would address the relationship between Catalonia and Spain.

"It is a tradition of Catalanism: we always sit down to listen. We always do, if we can find points of agreement. If the Spanish government proposes a referendum, we will always sit down to negotiate. And right now only Podemos is arguing for this option", noted the president of the Generalitat.

Foreign Affairs

Yesterday the Catalan government decided to change the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Institutional Relations, and Transparency, which will from now on be called Institutional and Foreign Affairs and Relations, and Transparency. Puigdemont signed a presidential decree to ratify the responsibilities that were suspended by Spain’s Constitutional Court (TC), and minister Raül Romeva noted that the government has the "legal" obligation to undertake foreign action to the extent that it is a part of the executive plan approved by Parliament.

Puigdemont, in response to Ciudadanos’ leader Inés Arrimadas, simply said that the government will follow through with the roadmap approved by the Catalan Parliament.

Debt and the CUP

CUP representative Joan Garriga asked the president about the maturities of the Generalitat debt in the hands of banks, and for which it is paying default interest. Puigdemont, as he did on February 2nd after meeting with the CUP in the Palau, announced the creation of a work group on debt.