Catalonia

Puigdemont wants to return to Catalonia from exile

Catalonia's separatist leader, Carles Puigdemont, has called on Spain's government to allow him to return home from exile in time for the opening session of the Catalan parliament so that he can become the region's next president.

What next for Puigdemont and Catalonia?

Rajoy rules out national election after Catalan vote

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has ruled out calling a national election after Catalan pro-independence parties won a majority in a regional vote, thwarting his bid to resolve the country's biggest political crisis in decades.

45,000 pro-Catalan protesters march in Brussels

Nearly 50,000 people have marched through Brussels' European quarter in support of Catalan independence and the region's president.

Spain withdraws European arrest warrant for Puigdemont

Spain has withdrawn a European arrest warrant for Catalonia's sacked leader Carles Puigdemont and four of his former ministers, who fled to Belgium after the regional parliament declared unilateral independence, the Supreme Court said.

Catalan pro-independence leaders have bail refused

Spain's Supreme Court has refused bail for two Catalan pro-independence leaders accused of sedition ahead of regional elections that the Spanish government hopes will defuse the nation's worst political crisis in four decades.

Rajoy urges businesses not to abandon Catalonia

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has urged businesses not to abandon Catalonia after hundreds of firms moved their legal headquarters away as uncertainty over the region's independence drive drags on.

Court grants bail for Catalan parliament speaker

A Supreme Court judge in Spain has said that the Speaker of the Catalan parliament can be released on bail pending an investigation into her role on the banned push for independence.

Prosecutor asks for ex-Catalan speaker to be detained

Spain's state prosecutor has asked a judge to jail the Catalan parliament speaker who enabled its declaration of independence while an investigation into charges of rebellion and sedition continues, Spanish newspaper El Pais has reported.

Catalonian strike sees roads and shops closed

A general strike called by pro-independence campaigners in Catalonia closed shops and severed transport links on Wednesday, as the region's deposed leader lost political momentum after failing to seal an electoral pact with another party.

Catalan secessionist parties fail to agree unity ticket

Catalan secessionist parties have failed to agree on a united ticket to contest a December snap regional election.

Judge releases ex-Catalan leader under conditions

A Belgian judge has released ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and four of his ministers under certain conditions after a hearing lasting more than ten hours.

Ex-Catalan leader calls for unity for independence

Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has called for a united political front in the 21 December election to continue the drive for independence from Spain.

Catalonia unemployment jumps as political crisis drags

Registered unemployment rose sharply in Catalonia in October, new figures showed today.

Puigdemont 'demands' jailed ex-Catalan leaders' release

Dismissed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has "demanded" that members of his deposed government be released after a judge ordered them to be jailed pending further probes into their role in seeking independence.

Lawyer says Puigdemont will not return to Spain soon

A lawyer for dismissed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, has said that his client will not adhere to a summons to appear before a Madrid court at a hearing due to start tomorrow.

Spain's High Court calls on Puigdemont to testify

Spain's High Court has called on former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and 13 members of his sacked administration to testify on Thursday morning.

Spanish prosecutor calls for rebellion charges

Spain's state prosecutor has called for rebellion and sedition charges to be brought against Catalonia's leaders over their push for independence from Spain.

Hundreds of thousands attend Spanish unity rally

Hundreds of thousands of supporters of a unified Spain filled Barcelona's streets today in one of the biggest shows of force yet by the so-called silent majority that has watched as regional political leaders push for Catalan independence.

Madrid calls on Puigdemont to participate in elections

The Spanish government said it would welcome the participation of sacked Catalan president Carles Puigdemont in regional elections to be held in December.

Spain sacks Catalan govt after independence declaration

The Madrid government sacked Catalonia's president and dismissed its parliament today, hours after the region declared itself an independent nation, in Spain's gravest political crisis since the return of democracy four decades ago.

Catalan leader Puigdemont rules out snap election

Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has ruled out holding a snap regional election to break the deadlock between the central government and separatists seeking a split from Spain, sharpening the political crisis.

Popular takes shine off Brazil-driven Santander profit

Banco Santander's net profit was hit by one-off restructuring costs from its acquisition of troubled Banco Popular, which offset otherwise solid underlying third quarter results from Spain's biggest lender.