Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is considering appearing before the Spanish Senate to explain his position. If he does it will be a significant opportunity for him to present his arguments for independence.<br /><br />On Friday the Senate in Madrid is expected to vote on implementing direct rule.<br /><br />Either way Catalan lawmakers are to hold their own parliamentary debate before then.<br /><br />“We have asked for a specific plenary session on Thursday to respond to the aggression made by the decision of the cabinet and its application of article 155 of the constitution,” said a spokesperson for Junts Pel Si coalition, Lluis Corominas.<br /><br />Leaders of Catalonia’s secessionist campaign say the Oct-1 referendum in which 43 percent of the electorate voted, has given them a mandate to claim independence from Spain.<br /><br />Puigdemont’s suspended declaration was he said in order to allow for talks which Madrid rejected.<br /><br />Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, said: “The Catalan Government has a chance to come to the senate and make the arguments that it deems appropriate and so we will hear everything President Puigdemont) has to say and I believe that at this moment it is best to say things openly and in public.”<br /><br />Spain’s Senate will vote on triggering Article 155 of the constitution which will allow Madrid to intervene in the running of the region.<br />Catalonia says its confident its officials including the police will not comply raising fears of possible unrest.<br /><br />Catalonia warns of civil disobedience as Madrid readies direct rule https://t.co/Ncd7IYW5NX pic.twitter.com/7xxU6kNsvE— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) October 23, 2017<br />
