Catalan Leader Vows Parliament Will Declare Independence if Spain Refuses Talks

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said that "If the government continues to impede dialogue and continues with the repression, the Catalan parliament could proceed, if it is considered opportune, to vote on a formal declaration of independence."

According to reports, Puigdemont made the letter public only a few minutes before the 10 a.m. deadline he'd been given by the Spanish authorities to retract Catalonia's declaration of independence.

Puigdemont confirmed that at the moment declaration of independence is still suspended.

Catalonia held a referendum on independence on October 1. After that referendum, Carles Puchdemon stated that the results of the vote (90% of those who participated in it supported independence, and turnout was 43%) provide sufficient grounds for proclaiming independence, but he suggested that the regional parliament postpone the declaration of independence while negotiating with the Spanish authorities.

Spain's Constitutional Court nullified the referendum vote for independence that had been approved by the Catalan Parliament.