Catalonia's VP: Spain 'gives us no option' but to secede
Catalonia's vice president says Spanish authorities are giving separatists in the prosperous northeastern region "no other option" but to push ahead with proclaiming a new republic.
Oriol Junqueras told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his party—one of two in the ruling separatist Catalan coalition—is "going to work toward building a republic, because we understand that there is a democratic mandate to establish such a republic."
But Junqueras insisted he was speaking on behalf of his Republican Left party and not for the regional government of President Carles Puigdemont. He said the Spanish government "is giving us no other option."
His remarks come amid frantic jockeying in the Catalan government on how to respond to plans by Spanish authorities to fire them and directly manage the region's affairs.
