'We will NOT lose hope!' Catalan independence voter says region WILL break away from Spain
CATALONIA independence from Spain WILL happen as Catalans trust the region’s President Carles Puigdemont to fulfil the move, a separatist voter has said.
‘We won't lose hope’ Catalan voter confident of secession
Speaking on the Today programme, on BBC Radio 4, the independence supporter said Mr Puigdemont’s address the Catalan parliament on Tuesday was “a little step” towards separatism.
Mr Puigdemont said he wanted to "follow the people's will for Catalonia to become an independent state" in a major speech but called for talks with the government in Madrid.
The voter said: “I don’t lose hope. I think this is a little step to arrive where we want to arrive.
“I trust the president from minute one and we continue trusting him.”
Catalonia independence voter says she has trusted Carles Puigdemont from "minute one"
I trust the president from minute one and we continue trusting him
With thousands watching outside the Catalan parliament and millions watching across the world, Mr Puigdemont yesterday said it was an “historic moment”.
He said: "The ballots say ‘yes’ to independence, this is the will that I want to go forward with.
"At this historical moment as the president of Catalonia, I want to follow people's will for Catalonia to become an independent state."
His speech, which was delayed by an hour, was largely focused on the violence during the referendum as the Catalan leader proposed further dialogue with the government in Madrid as the region works towards independence.
He said: "We propose to suspend the effect of the independence declaration... in order to work towards putting into practice the result of the referendum... Today, we are making a gesture of responsibility in favour of dialogue."
Early reports suggest there is widespread disappointment among pro-independence supporters, many of whom were hoping the Catalan leader would declare the region independent of Spain.
Shortly after his speech, Mr Puigdemont signed a document declaring Catalonia's independence before then signing another which suspended the break away from Spain.