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Catalunya's ex-president says region 'not ready' for independence
09/10/2017
FORMER regional president of Catalunya, Artur Mas has been left with egg on his face two years after asserting that 'not one bank or major company' would move out of the north-eastern enclave in the event of an independence referendum.
But despite his own passionate campaigning to hold the vote and his pro-secession views, Mas has now admitted that Catalunya is 'not ready for independence'.
In an interview with British broadsheet The Financial Times, the ex-regional leader said Catalunya 'has earned the right to statehood', but that 'there are things needed to be independent that Catalunya has not got'.
“The issue at the moment is exactly how we would exercise that right and there, obviously, there are decisions that need to be taken,” Mas admits.
“And these decisions need to have one aim in mind: it's not just about proclaiming independence, but about truly becoming an independent country.”
Catalunya's independence 'will never be real' until the regional government is 'in control of borders, taxes and the justice system', Mas told The FT.
“Control of infrastructure, customs and borders are necessary; for people to pay their taxes to the treasury in Catalunya; for a justice system run according to Catalunya Parliament's laws,” stressed Mas.
“Unless and until all this is in place, Catalunya is not truly independent.”
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FORMER regional president of Catalunya, Artur Mas has been left with egg on his face two years after asserting that 'not one bank or major company' would move out of the north-eastern enclave in the event of an independence referendum.
But despite his own passionate campaigning to hold the vote and his pro-secession views, Mas has now admitted that Catalunya is 'not ready for independence'.
In an interview with British broadsheet The Financial Times, the ex-regional leader said Catalunya 'has earned the right to statehood', but that 'there are things needed to be independent that Catalunya has not got'.
“The issue at the moment is exactly how we would exercise that right and there, obviously, there are decisions that need to be taken,” Mas admits.
“And these decisions need to have one aim in mind: it's not just about proclaiming independence, but about truly becoming an independent country.”
Catalunya's independence 'will never be real' until the regional government is 'in control of borders, taxes and the justice system', Mas told The FT.
“Control of infrastructure, customs and borders are necessary; for people to pay their taxes to the treasury in Catalunya; for a justice system run according to Catalunya Parliament's laws,” stressed Mas.
“Unless and until all this is in place, Catalunya is not truly independent.”
Related Topics
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