Spain will strip Catalonia of autonomy if it gives ambiguous answers

Spain will take control of Catalonia if the region's leader does not answer clearly whether they have declared independence.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont. Photo: Reuters.

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence from Spain on October 10 but postponed it to allow for dialogue with Madrid. Spain gave him until October 16 to clarify whether he had declared independence.

"The answer must be unambiguous. He must say 'yes' or 'no'," Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said on October 14, according to Reuters.

"If he answers vaguely, it means he does not want dialogue and the Spanish government will have to act," the minister added.

According to Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, the central government can take control of autonomous regions if it considers them to be acting unconstitutionally or in a way that affects the public interest. This provision has never been used.

Mr Puigdemont is consulting with local parties to prepare a response. He faces a dilemma.If he says he has declared independence, the central government will intervene. If he says he has not declared independence,Puigdemontwould upset allies, including the far-left CUP party.

The CUP has only 10 seats in the 135-seat Catalan parliament. However, Mr Puigdemont's government cannot win a majority in the regional parliament without their support. A CUP representative today called on the Catalan leadership to make a clear declaration of independence.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said midweek that if Mr Puigdemont confirms Catalonia has split from Spain by October 16, the central government will give him more time to reconsider until October 19, before activating Article 155.

According to VNE