Catalonia to declare independence from Spain as soon as weekend
Catalonia to declare independence from Spain as soon as weekend:- Catalonia will move as soon as this weekend to declare independence from Spain, the region’s leader said, moving the European Union country closer to a rupture that threatens the foundations of its young democracy.
The constitutional crisis has hit the euro and Spanish stocks and bonds and Volkswagen’s (VOWG_p.DE) Spanish unit SEAT warned of disrupted activity on Tuesday due to protests. Catalonia’s Caixabank (CABK.MC) and Spain’s economy minister have meanwhile sought to assure bank customers that their deposits are secure.
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont told the BBC in an remarks published on Wednesday that his government would ask the region’s parliament to declare independence after tallying votes from last weekend’s referendum, which Madrid deems illegal.
His comment appeared after Spain’s King Felipe VI accused secessionist leaders on Tuesday of shattering democratic principles and dividing Catalan society, as tens of thousands protested against a violent police crackdown on Sunday’s vote.
“We are to declare independence 48 hours after all the official results are counted,” Puigdemont said in remarks posted on the BBC’s website.
“This will probably finish once we get all the votes in from abroad at the end of the week and therefore we shall probably act over the weekend or early next week.”
Puigdemont is due to make a statement at 9 p.m. (3.00 p.m. ET) on Wednesday.
Source:- http://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-politics-catalonia/catalonia-to-declare-independence-from-spain-as-soon-as-weekend-leader-idUSKCN1C9109
