Catalonia may declare independence from Spain today

Catalonia’s president is under mounting pressure at home and internationally to drop plans to secede from Spain, ahead of a critical address to lawmakers where he could declare independence.

Carles Puigdemont on Tuesday will make his first address to the regional parliament since the disputed Oct. 1 referendum. Catalan authorities say more than 90 percent of votes in the ballot favored independence, but turnout was only 43 percent. Madrid banned the vote as unconstitutional.

READ: 350,000 Catalans just marched against independence

It remains unclear whether Puigdemont will make a formal declaration of independence, as previously indicated, or adopt a more-nuanced position in the wake of growing political and economic pressure.

Madrid said it would respond immediately to any declaration of independence – including potentially removing Catalonia’s government and suspending the region’s autonomy.

Catalonia’s separatist leaders have faced growing pressure on multiple fronts in recent days. Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Barcelona, the Catalan capital, Sunday, in the biggest pro-unity demonstration yet calling for the region to remain part of Spain.

A number of major companies based in the prosperous northeast region – infrastructure firm Abertis, property group Inmobiliaria Colonial and telecoms company Cellnex – have relocated their head offices to Madrid amid the turmoil. Others have said they will follow if Catalonia declares independence.

Beyond Spain’s borders, European powers have weighed in against Catalonia’s push for independence. German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy she supports a united Spain but favors dialogue, while France said Monday it would not recognize an independent Catalonia, and that any Catalan state would be excluded from the European Union.

Barcelona’s Mayor Ada Colau added her voice Monday to calls urging Puigdemont not to declare independence ­– while also calling on Rajoy to rule out suspending the region’s autonomy.

“I ask them not to take any decision that might blow up the possibility of any space for dialogue and mediation,” said Colau. “That is the most courageous act they could do now.”

But as the standoff progressed toward a climax Tuesday, talks appeared no closer, with Rajoy adamant he will not talk to the Catalan leaders unless they drop their plans to declare independence.