Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has ruled out the possibility of holding a regional snap election and has asked parliament to decide how to move forward as the secession crisis from Spain continues.

During an announcement which was delayed, cancelled, and rescheduled Thursday, Puigdemont said that there were not enough guarantees from Madrid that a snap election would stop the imposition of direct rule in Catalonia.

“I was ready to call an election if guarantees were given.  There is no guarantee that justifies calling an election today,” he said.

Earlier Thursday, Puigdemont said the Spanish government will worsen the political crisis over the Catalonia region’s push for independence if lawmakers go ahead with a threat to revoke its autonomy.

In a letter to the Senate, Puigdemont said the proposed steps go beyond reasonable measures and carry “direct and immediate consequences” for the people of Catalonia.

“In order to resolve what the government has called a serious, extraordinary situation, it will create an even more serious, extraordinary situation by seizing Catalonia’s political autonomy,” Puigdemont said.

The Senate is expected to approve direct rule for Catalonia during a session Friday.

Foregone conclusion

Carlos Uxo, a senior lecturer at Monash University, says it is a foregone conclusion that the Senate will go ahead with stripping Catalonia’s independence.

“To be approved, you need a majority in the Senate, and the ruling party, Partido Popular, has that majority, so they don’t even need to discuss with other parties,” Uxo told VOA.  “They have said that it will go ahead no matter what the Catalan government does.”

The situation has played out for several weeks with both sides threatening to take action the other sees as escalating the situation.

Uxo said he thinks neither side is ready to engage in real dialogue.

“I think they are more interested at this stage in defending their views rather than trying to come out of this stalemate,” he said.

VOA’s Victor Beattie contributed to this report.
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