About: Catalonia independence
Catalan ex-leader Puigdemont regains MEP immunity
Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and two fellow pro-independence allies on Wednesday (2 June) regained provisional political immunity as members of the European Parliament, an EU court ruled.
Spanish PM to decide on Catalan separatist pardons within weeks
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is considering granting pardon by the end of June for a group of Catalan separatists jailed for their involvement in holding an illegal independence referendum in 2017, Spanish media has reported.
EU Parliament strips Puigdemont, two other Catalans of immunity
The European Parliament has voted to waive the immunity of Catalonia’s former regional head of government and two other separatist lawmakers, taking them a step closer to extradition to Spain, where they are charged with sedition.
EU lawmakers recommend lifting immunity of Catalan MEPs
The European Parliament's legal committee on Tuesday (23 February) voted to recommend lifting the immunity of three Catalan lawmakers wanted by Spain for sedition over a failed 2017 independence bid, parliamentary sources said.
Catalan separatists increase majority, dialogue with Madrid in sight
Separatist parties won enough seats on Sunday (14 February) in Catalonia’s regional parliament to strengthen their majority, although a strong showing for the local branch of Spain’s ruling Socialists pointed to a dialogue, rather than breakup, with Madrid.
Belgian court rejects extradition of Catalan separatist
A Belgian court on Friday (7 August) rejected the extradition of a former Catalan regional minister to face charges in Spain related to the banned 2017 independence referendum, prosecutors said.
Spanish, Catalan leaders agree to start ‘constructive dialogue’ this month
Spain’s socialist prime minister Pedro Sánchez and Catalonia's regional president Quim Torra agreed on Thursday (6 February) to start a "constructive dialogue" in order to break the country's political impasse and solve the "political conflict" in Catalonia, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Spain’s socialists and Catalan separatists inch closer to deal, despite tensions
An agreement between the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and caretaker socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is "within reach", paving the way for broader government coalition talks. EURACTIV’s partner EuroEFE reports.
Spain’s Socialists again seek to rule without majority as Ciudadanos collapses
The head of Spain's centre-right Ciudadanos party quit on Monday (11 November) after heavy election losses, potentially making his party more amenable to backing a government led by the Socialists.
Spain’s election candidates clash over Catalonia in TV debate
The main candidates to become Spain's next prime minister clashed on Monday (4 November) over how to handle Catalonia's independence drive, in a tense TV debate ahead of a repeat election that opinion polls show could be as inconclusive as the one in April.
Ahead of election, Spain braces for weeks of violent protests after ‘historic’ sentence
Less than a month before a fresh general election, Spain enters one of the most complex and volatile periods in its recent democratic history, after the Supreme Court sentenced on Monday nine Catalan independence leaders for their involvement in the banned 2017 independence referendum. EURACTIV's partner EFE reports.
Spain’s Supreme Court jails Catalan leaders amid protests
Nine Catalan politicians and activists have on Monday been sentenced to up to 13 years in prison by Spain's Supreme Court for their involvement in a banned referendum in 2017, amid strong reactions from separatists.
Catalonia’s ex-leader Puigdemont banned from EU polls
Spanish election authorities on Monday (29 April) banned Catalonia’s former president Carles Puigdemont, who fled the country in 2017 after a secession attempt, from running in upcoming EU polls. Puigdemont slammed the move in a tweet as a “legal scandal...
Electoral uncertainty augurs more political instability in Spain
Spain is gearing up for its third general elections in just over three years within a political atmosphere of instability and uncertainty such as has not been seen in 40 years and which looks set to continue even after ballot day, analysts say. EURACTIV's partner efe-epa reports.
Spain’s right, far-right rally against PM over Catalonia
Tens of thousands of people waving Spanish flags joined a rally on Sunday (10 February) in Madrid called by right-wing and far-right parties against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who they accuse of treachery over his negotiations with Catalan separatists. Police said around 45,000...
Catalan separatist trial gives Spanish far right global platform
Far-right Spanish party Vox is on track to get a global soapbox as it takes part in the much-hyped trial of Catalan pro-independence leaders as a "popular prosecutor" -- a Spain-specific legal mechanism that has left Madrid embarrassed.
Catalan republicanism and European federalism
Republicanism in Catalonia is inseparable from both Catalanism and European federalism, writes Oriol Junqueras, who argues that Europe faces a crucial crossroads: on the one hand, an increasingly extreme right, and on the other, a modern European federalist left.
Spanish cabinet to meet in Catalonia amid separatist protests
Catalan pro-independence groups plan to protest and block roads in Barcelona on Friday (21 December) as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez holds a cabinet meeting in the city under tight security.
Spanish PM hardens Catalonia stance with eye on election
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Wednesday (12 December) he would stand firm against what he called "inflammatory" Catalan separatist rhetoric, hardening his stance towards the region and upping the stakes in a broader political game.
Catalan leader calls on Madrid to agree to independence referendum
Catalan leader Quim Torra relaunched a campaign to split his region from Spain on Tuesday (4 September), calling on the central government in Madrid to agree to a referendum on independence and rebuffing a vote that could only offer greater autonomy.
Spain’s conservatives swing to the right with new leader
Spain's conservatives shifted to the right on Saturday (21 July), electing a traditionalist as leader as they seek to re-establish a clear political identity less than two months after being removed from government.
In ‘cordial’ meeting with Catalan leader, Sánchez signals thaw
Spain’s Prime Minister signaled a thaw in relations with Catalonia yesterday (9 July), signing up to joint initiatives in a first meeting with the region’s leader but again ruling out any moves toward Catalan independence.
Spain’s new PM unveils pro-EU government dominated by women
Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday unveiled a new pro-EU government with the most women in modern history, with 11 female and six male ministers.