CATALONIA -- Mas in Le Figaro: "If necessary, we'll transform the elections into a referendum" - VilaWeb

Mas in Le Figaro: "If necessary, we'll transform the elections into a referendum" - VilaWeb:

 Mas in Le Figaro: "If necessary, we'll transform the elections into a referendum"

The Catalan President said in an interview that a plebiscite "is, unfortunately, the most probable scenario"

"We have arrived at the conclusion that we have to hold a referendum
to decide on our political future," says Catalan President Artur Mas in
an interview published today in the Parisian daily Le Figaro. But the
Spanish Congress refused to delegate the powers to hold referendums to
Catalonia. Mas explains that there is still a way to call a referendum
by using the Catalan "Law of consultations" which will be approved in
September, and if that law is overturned and prohibited, there will
still be one legal avenue open: "If there is no alternative, we will
transform the elections into a referendum. This is not the best option,
but it is the most probable one." In addition, he said he was skeptical
about any possible constitutional reform.

Why didn’t Mas attend
the debate in Madrid this week? "We already knew that the result of the
vote would be negative and that Madrid was looking for a photograph: the
president of Catalonia defends his initiative, loses, and he's done
with. I'm reserving myself for the future. There are more ways to get to
a referendum."

About the different ways to hold a referendum, he explained, "We are
preparing a law (of consultations) so that it won't be easy to overturn.
But if they prohibit it anyway, what path will be left to us Catalans?
The only way will be to hold Catalan parliamentary elections, which are
by definition legal. If there is no other alternative, we will convert
these elections into a referendum. But that is not the best option."

Just the same, Mas says that it is "unfortunately, the most probable
scenario. If we get there, it will be due to the radical opposition of
the Spanish authorities."

And what will the plebiscite election look like? "I will call for
normal elections. And how can they prohibit parties that are in favor of
a referendum, that represent between 70 and 80% of the population, from
transforming the vote into a referendum?"

When would such a plebiscite be held? Mas made it clear that he would
prefer that they be held after the Spanish elections in the fall of
2015 because he thinks that the PP will lose the elections or at the
very least the absolute majority that it enjoys. But he makes it clear
that he is committed to coming to an agreement with the other parties on
this question.

And a reform of the constitution? He says: "If there is any Catalan
initiative to reform the constitution, the PP and PSOE will not accept
it and it will be a waste of time. If the reform proposal is serious,
which I doubt, it's up to them to take the initiative."

  

President Mas in Le Figaro