Global Geo-political Series: Madrid extends deadline for clarification on Catalonia's Independence until Thursday

Independence…Yes or No?

Madrid has extended the ultimatum deadline that was due to expire today until Thursday for the Catalonia’s Independence leader Carles Puigdemont to clarify whether he has declared independence or not. After receiving the first deadline, Mr. Puigdemont didn’t clarify his stance though he signed a declaration of independence last week. Mr. Puigdemont called for dialogues without any pre-conditions as he refuses to back down from the claim of Independence. The Spanish government has so far rejected Puigdemont no-condition negotiation and the deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría has once again reiterated that Catalonia needs to drop its independence bid in order to join the table for negotiations and insisted that Catalonia’s Independence bid is illegal. She added, “No one is denying him the chance for dialogue, but dialogue has to be carried out within the law……Puigdemont still has the solution in his hands. He needs to answer yes or no.”

Several European leaders have expressed concerns that if the Catalonia crisis isn’t resolved peacefully and amicably, it risks tearing the European Union apart. The Spanish government has maintained its tough stance and said that it stands ready to invoke Article 155 of the Constitution to nullify Catalonia’s autonomy.