ARCHIVED - Spanish PM promises to never support a Catalan independence referendum
Pedro Sánchez faces strong scepticism after the pardons handed to leading Catalan separatists
During a heated debate in Congress on Wednesday Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, was adamant that neither the current government nor the PSOE party he leads will ever accept a referendum on the issue of independence in the region of Catalunya, attempting to present a firm posture after criticism of recent pardons handed to various leading Catalan separatists.
“The PSOE will never accept a self-determination referendum”, Sr Sánchez stated, but it appears that the recent pardons have lessened his credibility not only among his political opponents but also among his supposed allies. Gabriel Rufián, the outspoken leader of the republican Catalan left-wing group Esquerra, claimed that the Prime Minister also promised in the past that there would be no pardons, concluding “give it time”, while Aitor Esteban of the Basque PNV party responded with the advice “never say never”.
The pardons awarded were to various of those who played leading roles in the events which led up to the partial holding of an outlawed independence referendum in Catalunya in 2017 and the subsequent unilateral declaration of independence from Spain in the Catalan parliament: that in turn provoked the implementation of home rule by the Spanish government.
The thrust of Pedro Sánchez’s argument in Congress was that the issuing of pardons is likely to foment constructive and useful dialogue between separatists and the Spanish government, proclaiming that “now is the time for politics”, but Pedro Casado of the PP expressed distrust of his statements in the strongest possible terms. “Not even your partners believe you”, he accused the Prime Minister.