Spanish Prime Minister calls on Catalonia to cancel plans to declare independence

Mr. Mariano Rajoy called on the leader of the Catalan region to cancel plans to unilaterally declare independence to "avoid greater evils".

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Photo: Reuters.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the solution to Catalonia's crisis was for the autonomous region to return to the rule of law and make "an announcement as soon as possible that there will be no unilateral declaration of independence, because that would avoid greater evils," Reuters reported, quoting Mr. Rajoy as saying inan interview with Spanish news agency EFE on October 5.

Previously, the leader of the Catalonia region,The industrial and tourist hub, which contributes one-fifth of Spain's gross domestic product (GDP), has left open the possibility of unilaterally declaring itself an independent nation after the referendum.headreferendum took place on October 1.

Mr Rajoy gave a televised speech rejecting the possibility of Catalonia's independence, accusing supporters of secession from Spain of trying to "blackmail the whole country". Prime Minister Rajoy also proposed negotiations with all political parties on the future of Catalonia.

Meanwhile, the Catalan government plans to ask the regional legislative assembly to declare independence on October 9, after a referendum showed 90% of voters supported Catalonia's separation from Spain. Madrid considers the referendum illegal and against the Spanish constitution.

According to VNE