Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 27 OctOber 2017
Catalan leader rules out election to avert Spain showdown

By ARITZ PARRA cant powers from Cata-
ELENA BECATOROS lonia. Regional lawmakers
Associated Press convened shortly after he
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) announced his decision on
— The standoff between the election.
Spain and Catalonia over “Peace and civility must
the region’s move to se- remain,” Puigdemont said.
cede approached a cru- “Only this way, we will be
cial juncture Thursday as able to win.”
the pro-independence Spanish Prime Minister Mari-
Catalan leader ruled out ano Rajoy’s plan to invoke
calling an early election constitutional authority to
that some had hoped remove or limit self-rule in
would defuse tensions with Catalonia is set to be ap-
the Spanish government. proved during a meeting
In a hastily called address Friday of the Spanish Sen-
in Barcelona, regional Pres- ate in Madrid. It would be
ident Carles Puigdemont the first direct interven-
said he considered calling tion by central authorities
a snap election, but chose in the affairs of one of the
not to because the gov- country’s 17 autonomous
ernment did not provide regions. Spain’s conserva-
enough assurance that it tive government had ini-
would suspend what he tially offered to halt the Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and Vice President Oriol Junqueras, left, attend a parliamen-
termed its “abusive” mea- extraordinary measures if tary session at the Catalan parliament in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017. The leader of
sures to assume control of new elections were called Spain’s secession-minded Catalonia region says he has decided against calling a parliamentary
Catalonia. in Catalonia, but recently election that might have defused tension with the Spanish government.
“Consequently I can’t or- backtracked and said the (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
ganize parliamentary elec- takeover plan is unstoppa- Puigdemont had offered after Gen. Francisco Fran- the Spanish government a
tions,” he said. “There is ble. Senator Javier Arenas through mediators to call co’s dictatorship. chance to negotiate.
no guarantee that justifies of Rajoy’s governing Popu- the election if the central The leadership of Cata- The option to call elections
elections.” lar Party said a call for new government dropped the lonia, a prosperous region was a risky one politically
Puigdemont said it now regional elections would takeover bid, but that the of 7.5 million people, has for Puigdemont. Ahead of
was up to the existing re- not be enough to stop the ruling party refused. The been in a heated political his statement, a spokes-
gional parliament to de- Senate. officials spoke on condi- battle with the Spanish gov- man for the Catalan Re-
termine how to respond to Earlier Thursday, two par- tion of anonymity because ernment since it scheduled public Left party, or ERC, a
the Spanish government’s liamentary officials told they were not authorized a disputed referendum on separatist party that is part
plan to take over signifi- The Associated Press that to speak publicly about the independence. Those who of the Catalan ruling coali-
discussions. voted Oct. 1 were over- tion, said the party would
It was not clear that an whelmingly in favor, but less abandon Puigdemont’s
election would have than half of eligible voters government if he called an
solved Spain’s problems went to the polls in a vote election. The spokesman
with Catalonia anyway, that had been outlawed requested anonymity due
as polls consistently show by Spain’s Constitutional to the sensitivity of last-min-
pro-independence parties Court. ute negotiations.
would likely win the most Puigdemont insists the ref- Puigdemont’s center-right
seats again. erendum gave him the PDeCAt party and the ERC
Catalonia’s independence mandate to declare inde- have governed in a minor-
bid has led to Spain’s deep- pendence. But so far he ity coalition with the parlia-
est political crisis in the four has stopped short of pro- mentary support of the far-
decades since the country claiming a new republic, left, anti-establishment CUP
restored democratic rule saying he wants to give party.q
Italy’s new electoral law reaches approval

ROME (AP) — Italian law- last month and cleared he is bound to sign laws,
makers gave final approval the Senate on Thursday by even if he disagrees with
Thursday to a new elec- 214-61 with one abstention, them, as long as they’re
toral law that aims to make calls for a combination of constitutional.
Italy more governable by seats assigned by a major- The vote had divided the
encouraging coalition- ity system based on colleg- majority Democratic Party
building, especially among es and proportional voting. in large part because the
small parties. During the voting Wednes- government had resorted
The anti-establishment day and Thursday, 5-Star to putting key articles up to
5-Star Movement, which lawmakers and supporters a confidence vote to en-
has set its sights on national protested by wearing blind- sure passage.
office in next year’s elec- folds, saying the college Several Democrats broke
tion, had fiercely opposed system amounted to asking ranks and voted “no.” After
the legislation since it has Italians to vote “blind.” the legislation passed, Sen-
ruled out forming allianc- The 5-Star leaders have ate President Pietro Grasso
es and would likely suffer urged President Sergio Mat- formally left the party and
as a result. The law, which tarella not to sign the bill, joined a group of unaffili-
passed the lower house but he said Thursday that ated lawmakers.q