Catalan Leader Doubles Down on Independence Pledge
- Puigdemont says Spain and the EU must accept result as mandate
- Catalans head to the polls in regional snap election on Dec.21
Carles Puigdemont present the 'Junts per Catalunya' coalition on Nov. 25.
Photographer: Dario Pignatelli/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont pitched his candidacy ahead of next month’s regional election, doubling down on his pledge to make the region an independent state.
Puigdemont, who maintains he’s the legitimate regional president after being sacked by the central government, will lead a new platform under the banner of Together for Catalonia. He said on Saturday a victory at the polls on Dec. 21 would serve to ratify his mandate and send a signal to the European Union, which has repeatedly sided with the government of Mariano Rajoy against unilateral attempts for independence.