Catalonia Leader Request Talks, Decline to Clarify Independence Status Despite Spain Deadline

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has not clarified the region's declaration of independence despite an ultimatum from Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

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BBC reports that Spain will possibly consider extending the deadline for a response from the Catalan president to Thursday, before attempting to enact direct rule from Madrid.

Last week, Rajoy urged Puigdemont to unambiguously state whether or not Catalonia had declared independence following a referendum – held by Catalonia on Oct. 1 was banned and deemed illegal by Spain.

The Catalonia leader, has instead, renewed a call for dialogue between the two regions within the next two month, according to a report from Reuters news agency.

Puigdemont sent a letter to requesting talks but steered clear of explicitly saying Catalonia intends to break away from Spain.

The letter, which was sent two hours before Madrid's deadline, ignored the Spanish Government's demand for a "yes" or "no" response to the question "have you declared independence in Catalonia."

Madrid had given a deadline of 9:00 a.m. on Monday for an official response from Catalonia.

If Catalonia eventually declares independence, Rajoy would invoke Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, which involves sacking the regional government and calling for new elections.

"If the Catalan government chooses a hard line, we expect that Article 155 will be triggered (there are three more days for that to happen, with a final deadline set for next Thursday),” economist Marco Protopapa said.

“While it is difficult to predict the exact contours of its implementation, we foresee that in due time a new regional election will be called in an attempt to restore the normal institutional set up.”

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Protopapa states that there is possibly a fracture within Catalonia's pro-independence camp, between radical hard-liners and moderates leaning toward dialogue with Spain.

Protopapa said the Catalan government "had been weakened by these events."

Additionally, several high-profile businesses have threatened to vacate the region, prompting the European Union to state that an independent Catalonia was be isolated from the bloc.

Wealth management consultant Bob Parker explained that, "The Catalan Government were concerned by the movement of businesses from Barcelona to Madrid and were disappointed by the lack of EU support.”

He further stated: “For Spain, an independent Catalonia would weaken its economic and financial position since Catalonia accounts for 16 percent of the Spanish gross domestic product (GDP)."