Moncloa Palace, Madrid
Mariano Rajoy referred to the events of last Sunday in the following way, "When it was announced that a referendum was to be held in Catalonia, I said that this referendum would not be held, and as you are all aware, it has not been held. There has been no referendum. Instead we have witnessed an electoral simulation, without a census, without voting officers and controlled by the very same people who wanted to win".
The President of the Government also pointed out that 9-N was "a clear disaster for the pro-independence project" because they expected a huge turnout and an overwhelming majority in favour of the argument of those who called it, whereas "two out of three Catalans didn't even bother to turn out to vote". In other words, while the pro-independence project sought to offer a display of force, it has shown us its weakness", he stressed.
According to Mariano Rajoy, "Artur Mas cannot achieve his goal without causing a huge breakdown at the heart of Catalan society and without seriously affecting social peace and harmony".
Mariano Rajoy, willing to talk
Pool Moncloa"I deeply believe in dialogue to resolve political problems", claimed Mariano Rajoy. However, he explained that this dialogue must always be within the limits of the Constitution and respect for the law. And that does not include "a true referendum", or "a binding consultation", to use Artur Mas's own words, he stated.
"What was illegal a year ago is still illegal today. What was my duty a year ago has not changed either", explained the President of the Government. That is the position of the Government and of the Constitutional Court, a position also supported by the Lower House of Parliament back in April.
At any event, Mariano Rajoy admitted that if the President of the Regional Government of Catalonia "wishes to change the Constitution to include the right to self-determination and thus do away with national sovereignty, he is entitled to do so". Moreover, Mariano Rajoy added that "that is where he should have started: the Regional Parliament of Catalonia is empowered to start a constitutional reform process" since "that is the only legal and responsible way to advance its propositions". That is the path that Artur Mas should take, "although apparently he doesn't have the support to do so".
Mariano Rajoy underlined that "you can neither ask the President of the Government to negotiate national sovereignty" nor impose it. "What I will never discuss is the unity of Spain and national sovereignty", he concluded, "and I say that to more than two-thirds of the people of Catalonia who didn't turn out to vote, to those who did and to the rest of the citizens of Spain".
The value of unity
Pool MoncloaMariano Rajoy insisted that his obligation is "to attend to the needs, the well-being and the concerns of the people of Catalonia, as well as to the rest of the people of Spain". In this regard, he recalled that it was the Government of the Nation that implemented the liquidity mechanisms when the finances of the Regional Government of Catalonia were in a critical condition. "For this reason I have always been available to talk with the Regional Government of Catalonia", pointed out the President of the Government.
But, he added, "Dialogue is only possible, only makes sense and only produces results when there is a minimum of shared institutional loyalty". It is not a question of imposing conditions, he asserted, "but of remembering that you can never condition dialogue on the impossible, or previously set the results of it, which in this case is the calling of a referendum on self-determination".
The President of the Government also placed emphasis on the value of unity because "we live in times of integration, of union and growth in a world that won't wait for us", and because "Spain and Catalonia embody an ideal: that of different people being able to live together".
The government has acted proportionally
Pool MoncloaOn another note, the President of the Government pointed out that it is key for Catalonia to bring the current period of political instability to an end. "This whole term of office of the present Regional Government of Catalonia has been solely and exclusively dedicated to this project. I believe that it is time, after so many calls and discussions, for the Regional Government of Catalonia to get to work on those issues that are important for the citizens of Catalonia as a whole".
Mariano Rajoy also defended the government's actions during this process. "The Government of Spain has adopted a sensible, balanced attitude. It has defended legality. In other words, the government has taken its decisions proportionally". The President of the Government also highlighted that "Not one country in the world has supported a referendum to be held in Spain in breach of the Spanish Constitution and its laws".
The President of the Government expressed total respect for the decisions to be taken by the State's Attorney General on 9-N. "The public prosecution has powers as defined under Article 124 of the Constitution and thus acts independently".
Pool Moncloa