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Catalan Leader Backs Off Calling Regional Election

Carles Puigdemont said he had not received enough guarantees that the move would stop Spain imposing direct rule.
Reuters
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Protestors carrying Catalan seperatist flags gather outside the Generalitat Palace, the regional government headquarters, in Barcelona, Spain, October 26, 2017.
Yves Herman / Reuters

MADRID, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont on Thursday said he had decided not to call a snap election because he had not obtained enough guarantees from the central government that the move would stop the imposition of direct rule in Catalonia.

“I was ready to call an election if guarantees were given. There is no guarantee that justifies calling an election today,” Puigdemont said.

He also said it was now up to the Catalan parliament to move forward with a mandate to split from Spain following an independence referendum that took place on Oct. 1. (Reporting by Julien Toyer; Editing by Angus Berwick)

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