Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told supporters Sunday, "No is no,” indicating that there won't be independence for Catalonia. There won't be a referendum on the question if the socialists are returned to power either.
“If there is a socialist government, there will be no independence in Catalonia, there will be no referendum for independence and the Spanish constitution in Catalonia will not be violated — that will not happen,” he added. Sanchez's speech came after Socialists' leader in Catalonia, Miquel Iceta, said that 65 per cent of Catalans wanted independence and that "democracy must find a mechanism to enable it".
Catalonia will not be violated, Sanchez maintained.
Iceta's remarks which have been criticised by the right-wing opposition People's Party and led to allegations that Sanchez is preparing a deal with Catalonia's separatists, were later confirmed by him.
Twelve Catalan leaders are on trial in Madrid over an independence referendum that was held on October 1, 2017 despite a court ban, as well as a short-lived declaration of independence that followed.