Catalan leader calls for Madrid to agree on referendum

Catalan leader Quim Torra relaunched a campaign to split his region from Spain on Tuesday, rebuffing an offer from the central government in Madrid for a referendum on greater autonomy that would fall well short of independence.

Torra set out his separatist roadmap at a lecture entitled "Our Moment" on Tuesday evening, almost five months after he was elected as regional head to replace Carles Puigdemont, who fled to Brussels last year after Madrid removed him from office.

Spain's new socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has taken a softer line towards Catalonia since taking over from Mariano Rajoy, a conservative, in June, but ruled out a vote on independence after a banned and chaotic referendum last Oct. 1.

A majority voted for independence in that ballot but turnout was low, as opponents did not show up for the vote that Spain said was illegal. Puigdemont declared independence, prompting Madrid to take over direct rule.

Torra insisted he wanted another vote, but said this time it must be approved by the state.

"The Oct. 1 mandate is in force and we are working to bring it into effect," he said, but added that "only an agreed, binding and an internationally recognized referendum on self-determination can renew that mandate".

Secessionist ambitions in Catalonia, which accounts for around a fifth of the country's economy and is home to Spain's second-biggest city Barcelona, are one of the thorniest issues facing Sanchez.

Rajoy imposed direct rule on the basis of Spain's constitution, which states that the country is indivisible.

Sanchez proposed on Monday a referendum on greater Catalan autonomy, but he has firmly ruled out any referendum on independence or any unilateral attempt by Catalonia to secede.

Torra said Sanchez's proposal was "interesting" but called for negotiation on topics including the detention of separatist politicians who are still in jail on charges of rebellion for their part in organizing the illegal referendum.

"We will always listen to everyone, but we will never renounce our right to self-determination," Torra said.

The jailed separatists' trials could start as early as October, further ratcheting up the tension as Sanchez seeks a compromise with Barcelona.

The prime minister met Torra in Madrid in July, moved the prisoners closer to home and lifted financial controls on the region in an attempt to repair relations with Barcelona.

He also hopes to convince Catalan separatists parties to back his national budget further down the road and avoid a potential snap election next spring.

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