Spain’s PM urges calm over Catalonia independence

‘Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called Wednesday for calm in the face of “authoritarian delusions” in Catalonia, as tensions between Madrid and separatists in the northeastern region surged over an independence drive.
“To all Catalans, to all Spaniards, I want to tell you to maintain confidence in the future as authoritarian delusions… will never defeat the serenity and harmony of our democratic state,” Rajoy said at a gathering in Madrid.
His comments came a day after the separatist coalition that governs Catalonia, a wealthy region of 7.5 million inhabitants with its own language and customs, unveiled a bill aimed at ensuring an independence referendum takes place despite Madrid’s refusal.
Lawmakers who form the coalition said Catalonia would declare independence “immediately” if the region’s voters opt to separate from Spain in the vote planned for October 1.’
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