10th October 2024
Quim Torra
Barcelona News Catalonia News Madrid News Main News

Torra calls for ‘immediate meeting’ with Sánchez to engage in dialogue

Quim Torra, the Catalan president, has called on Spain’s acting prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, for an ‘immediate meeting’ in order to engage in dialogue and find a way out of the current Catalan crisis.

‘We urge the Spanish government to set a date and time in order to talk, negotiate and reach an agreement,’ said Torra. ‘This is their responsibility and obligation, we have been asking to talk for a long time.’ For him, this is ‘more urgent than ever’ now.

ALSO READ: After 5 peaceful marches, Barcelona in turmoil again – fifth night

In the early afternoon, the Catalan leader phoned Spain’s prime minister to engage in talks but the response from Madrid after a 20-minute wait was that Pedro Sánchez could not ‘pick up the phone’ and would be able to talk sometime later, according to government sources talking to the Catalan News Agency.

An hour later, Spain’s government sources said that Catalonia’s leader needs to ‘categorically condemn violence’ before Pedro Sánchez engages in dialogue. ‘First of all, [complying with] the law, and then dialogue,’ they said.

ALSO READ: Spain now investigates ‘Tsunami Democràtic’ for terrorism

Quim Torra
Catalan president Quim Torra, during a statement on 19 October 2019, joined by his vice president and three mayors. (Rubén Moreno / ACN)

During his statement, joined by the Catalan vice president and mayors of Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, Torra made clear that protestors should rally ‘peacefully and civically’.

‘No sort of violence represents us,’ he said in a statement, not joined by Barcelona’s mayor, Ada Colau, who earlier in the day also rejected the riots.

ALSO READ: Madrid says protests ‘affecting Catalonia’s international reputation’

‘This cannot, cannot go on, Barcelona doesn’t deserve it,’ she said. ‘Barcelona is everyone’s and we need to take care of it.’

Meanwhile, right-wing unionist parties blamed the Catalan president and the independence movement for the riots, but also accused Spain’s leader of inaction.

ALSO READ: Far-right and ant-fascist demonstrators clash in Barcelona

The People’s Party (PP) candidate for Catalonia in the upcoming Spanish election, Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, blamed ‘nationalism’ for the riots.

Ciudadanos (Cs) leader in Catalonia, Lorena Roldán, said Torra is the ‘instigator’ of the riots. ‘He neither condemns firmly violence, nor distances himself of the road blocks.’

Recent Posts

Rafael Nadal to retire from professional tennis after Davis Cup finals

Sports Desk

Pedro Sánchez calls upon EU to speed up deal on managing irregular migrants

News Desk

Andrés Iniesta, former Barça & Spain legend, retires from playing football, aged 40

Sports Desk

Spanish truck drivers to stage series of strikes in demand of earlier retirement

News Desk

Record number of summer visitors to Spain underlines over-tourism fears

News Desk

GB back in America’s Cup final for the first time in 60 years, to race against NZ

News Desk

Leave a Comment