BARCELONA: Spain’s government dismissed calls on Saturday from Catalonia’s pro-independence regional chief for talks over a wave of violence sparked by the jailing of separatist leaders, as police braced for fresh protests.
Barcelona saw its worst night of disturbances in decades on as masked youths blocked roads with blazing garbage bins and hurled rocks at security forces, who responded by firing repeated rounds of smoke grenades and tear gas.
Catalonia’s president, Quim Torra, said the violence did not reflect the peaceful nature of the traditional Catalan independence movement and asked for discussions with Madrid.
“We urge the acting prime minister of the Spanish government to sit at a negotiating table to talk,” he told reporters.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Torra must first unequivocally condemn the unrest.
“Mr Torra must strongly condemn the violence, which he has not done so far,” Sanchez said in a statement, adding he also needed to build bridges with the many Catalans who do not want secession.
“The government of Spain reiterates that the problem of Catalonia is not independence, which will not occur because it is not legal and nor do the majority of Catalans want it, but rather coexistence,” he said.
Protests erupted this week after Spain’s Supreme Court handed down lengthy prison terms to nine Catalan leaders for their role in a failed independence bid in 2017, which included holding a referendum that courts had deemed illegal.
Radical youth group Arran called for a new demonstration at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) against “police violence” and to demand the “freedom of all political prisoners”.
Police said they feared renewed confrontations and advised shopkeepers in the city center to close during the protest.
