Catalonia seeks new independence referendum
\n BARCELONA
\nCatalonia will push the Spanish government for a new agreement on holding a binding referendum on the region\u2019s potential independence that would be recognized both by Spain and the international community, its separatist leader said on Tuesday.
\nThe Spanish government, however, rejected the proposal.
\n\u201cThey have those maximalist aspirations, which are absolutely not shared by the government,\u201d spokesperson Isabel Rodriguez told reporters.
\nBut both governments would keep talking to \u201cnormalize\u201d their relationship, she said.
\nThe so-called \u201cclarity agreement\u201d proposal comes shortly before the fifth anniversary of Catalonia\u2019s unauthorized independence referendum and at a critical time for its separatist movement, which is marred by divisions between moderates and radicals that have threatened to fracture the coalition government.
\nSpain\u2019s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has favored dialogue with Catalonia to rebuild relations after a chaotic unilateral bid for independence in 2017 plunged Spain into its worst political crisis in years.
\nIt remains, however, staunchly opposed to independence and has hitherto ruled out a legal referendum. The Spanish constitution blocks the country\u2019s break up but some scholars and Catalan separatists argue there could be legal room for a vote if the Spanish government agrees.
\nA similar proposal by Catalonia in 2012 was firmly rejected by the then conservative government in Madrid. The wealthy northeastern region held a referendum five years later despite a ban by the courts, and issued a short-lived unilateral independence declaration.
\nCatalan government head Pere Aragones told the regional parliament that for another referendum, Catalonia needed Madrid\u2019s buy-in.
\n\u201cI have no doubt this is the fastest and most efficient way to hold another vote because it originates from the lessons learned from 2017 and overcomes the difficulties that did not allow us to implement the result five years ago,\u201d he said.
\nHe called his proposal the \u201cmost inclusive, democratic and explainable to the international community,\u201d and said he would seek the support of all Catalonia\u2019s political actors.
\nAragones has engaged in talks with Madrid and his party, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, has frequently lent its votes to the socialist-led minority government in congress.
\nAround 52 percent of Catalans oppose independence and 41 percent back it, according to a June poll.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Catalonia seeks new independence referendum BARCELONA Catalonia will push the Spanish government for a new agreement on holding a binding referendum on the region\u2019s potential independence that would be recognized both by Spain and the international community, its separatist leader said on Tuesday. The Spanish government, however, rejected the proposal. \u201cThey have those maximalist aspirations, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":286096,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-286068","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n