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Independence delayed

Carles Puigdemont.
Carles Puigdemont. Author: Govern de Catalunya
All 72 pro-independence MPs that hold the absolute majority in the Catalan Parliament signed yesterday 10 October a declaration of independence that the Catalan government considers to be "suspended" until options for dialogue and mediation between Barcelona and the Spanish government can be alive.

Catalan government president Carles Puigdemont, speaking to the plenary of the Catalan Parliament, "assumed the mandate" to deliver a Catalan "independent state in the form of a republic", following the result of the 1 October referendum on independence, to which Puigdemont gave full validity.

But head of opposition Inés Arrimadas (Citizens' Party, Spanish unionism) rejected Puigdemont's speech, said the Catalan president has no support in Europe, and asked for a snap election to be held.

Later on, Spanish vice president Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría too rejected Puigdemont's words and announced that the Spanish government would convene 11 October to decide on a "response" to yesterday's moves.

Declaration of independence

Once the parliamentary session was over, all 72 pro-independence MPs (Junts pel Sí, CUP and independent Germà Gordó) signed the Catalan declaration of independence. The text was signed inside the Parliament premises but outside the legislative chamber.

None of the remaining 63 MPs signed the text.

The MPs signed the declaration as "democratic representatives of the people of Catalonia, in free exercise of the right to self-determination, and in accordance with the mandate received from the citizens of Catalonia." The text says it is constituted the "Catalan Republic, as an independent and sovereign State, under the rule of law, [a] democratic and social [State]."

This is how the day was followed via Nationalia's Twitter account: