Catalan President Makes Secession Pledge in Challenge to Spain

  • Street violence injects uncertainty into election campaign
  • Support for protests is a balancing act for separatist leaders
Protesters make barricades during a demonstration in Barcelona on Oct. 16.Photographer: Lluis Gene/AFP via Getty Images
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Catalonia’s separatist president pledged a new push for independence, challenging the Spanish government during a tense week of violent street protests against jail terms given to leaders of a failed bid for secession in 2017.

“If we all make it possible, we must be able to finish validating independence during this legislature,” regional President Joaquim Torra said during a session of the Catalan parliament on Thursday.