Catalan leaders sign declaration of independence – but say they won’t breakaway from Spain ‘for a few weeks’
CATALONIA'S leaders have signed a declaration for independence but said they wont breakaway from Spain "for a few weeks".
President of the region's government Carles Puigdemont said it had "won the right" to stand alone as he addressed the regional parliament about what he called an "historic and extremely important decision".
In a speech to the region's parliament he said the vote had given him the mandate to lead Catalonia to become a "democratic republic", but gave no timescale for the break saying negotiations would take place.
Mr Puigdemont said: "I assume the mandate that Catalonia should become an independent state in the form of a republic ... I propose suspending the effects of the declaration of independence to undertake talks to reach an agreed solution."
Throughout the speech he had stressed the need to "de-esculate tension and not contribute to increase it with words or actions".
The leader was highly critical of the Spanish government's response to the referendum, but he said Catalans "have nothing against Spain or Spaniards".
He said Catalans were "not criminals" and "not crazy", just "normal people who want to vote".
There were boos from some of those in the huge crowds outside the region's parliament many of who had expected an immediate deceleration of independence.
The hashtag #10ODeclaració (10 October Declaration) had been shared on Twitter ahead of the speech by pro-independence Catalans who had been expecting a night of celebration.
Tuesday's landmark speech came after Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told the area's politicians to get back on what he called the "legal path".
Mr Rajoy is to chair an emergency cabinet meeting early on Wednesday morning where the central government's response will be discussed.
He has previously vowed to use his power to block independence and refused to rule out imposing direct rule over the region - a move many fear would see riots on the streets.
The government in Madrid, European Council president Donald Tusk and Barcelona's mayor had all urged Mr Puigdemont not to declare independence immediately.
Police had been posted outside the building in Barcelona and sealed off the grounds to the public as tensions continued to simmer after Catalonia pushed ahead with a controversial independence referendum earlier this month.
The Spanish government had said any unilateral declaration of independence would be illegal and threatened action "to restore law and democracy" if Catalonia's parliament presses ahead.
The Catalan leaders and the Spanish government have been at loggerheads for decades over campaigns for a split.
Catalonia's separatist leaders opened the region's polling stations on October 1 for what the national government had branded an "illegal" independence vote.
The vote saw 43 per cent of Catalans head to the polls, 90pc of which opted to break away from Spain.
The referendum ballot asked Catalans to answer yes or no to a single question: "Do you want Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic?"
Spain's Prime Minister had warned any declaration of independence will have no effect as citizens on both sides of the argument took to the streets.
MOST READ IN NEWS
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.'