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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 25 OctOber 2017
Catalan leaders plan legal challenge to Spain’s takeover

By CIARAN GILES case in international courts, to the fold and act under
ARITZ PARA Turull said. Spanish laws, rather than
Associated Press Spain’s Senate is expected flout them by declaring in-
MADRID (AP) — Catalo- to approve Rajoy’s plans dependence.
nia’s political leaders plan on Friday, triggering pre- Justice Minister Rafael Cat-
to bring a legal challenge viously untapped con- ala said Tuesday that Puig-
to prevent the Spanish stitutional powers to act demont must state he is
government from remov- against Catalan leaders willing to abide by Spanish
ing them from office and accused of violating the laws and also clarify if he
taking over running the law by holding a secession declared independence in
region to stop its push for referendum and preparing an ambiguous speech he
independence, a regional to declare independence. gave Oct. 10. The speech
spokesman said Tuesday. “We are going to respond followed a banned refer-
Appeals will be lodged in in a very solid way,” Tu- endum that the Catalan
Spain’s Constitutional and rull said at the end of the Catalan President Carles Puigdemont speaks in Barcelona, leader said gave him a
Supreme courts against regional government’s Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. mandate to secede.
Prime Minister Mariano Ra- weekly cabinet meeting. (Ruben Moreno/PPS via AP) More details about the ef-
joy’s decision to sack Cat- “We will exhaust all inter- some speculate he may dependence. There’s also fect the political crisis is hav-
alonia’s government and nal ways in order to turn to do so Thursday or Friday — speculation that Puigde- ing on Catalonia emerged
curtail the regional parlia- the international justice if when he could cross paths mont may alternatively call Tuesday when Caixabank,
ment’s powers, regional needed.” with Rajoy. But Puigdemont an early regional election Spain’s third-largest bank,
government spokesman Catalan separatist leader could pull a surprise by in- and avoid central govern- reported it suffered a
Jordi Turull said. Carles Puigdemont has a stead attending a meeting ment intervention. “moderate” but temporary
If the regional government last chance this week to at the regional parliament Calling such an election run on deposits due to the
is not successful in Span- defend his case before in Barcelona Thursday, would indicate that Cata- crisis over the region’s inde-
ish courts, it will pursue the Senate members, and where he could declare in- lonia was willing to return pendence bid.q

Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni speaks in Rome’s City Hall,
Monday, Oct. 23, 2017.
(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Italian premier open to talking
with regions eyeing autonomy

ROME (AP) — Italy’s leader In his first comments since
says the government is will- the twin votes Sunday,
ing to open talks with rep- Gentiloni said Tuesday in
resentatives of two wealthy Veneto that the govern-
regions after voters there ment was “ready to take
overwhelmingly passed ref- steps,” although he noted
erendums seeking greater the specific issues and con-
autonomy from Rome. ditions up for discussion
Premier Paolo Gentiloni haven’t been decided.
said “it’s possible, it’s prob- And he stressed that Italy
able” that certain services didn’t need any new “so-
could work better if Lom- cial lacerations” after years
bardy and Veneto ac- of economic stagnation.
quired greater powers from Sunday’s peaceful votes
the central Italian govern- reflected the same drive
ment. for greater self-determina-
Regional leaders are seek- tion seen in Spain’s conflict-
ing more autonomy over is- ridden Catalonia region.
sues such as education, im- While nonbinding, the Ital-
migration, security and the ian referendums were still
environment, as well as re- approved by Italy’s consti-
taining more tax revenue. tutional court.q