Catalan Separatist Movement Sees Cracks as Opinion Polls Tighten

While ousted President Carles Puigdemont doubled down this weekend on his pledge to make the wealthy region an independent state, his former ally Esquerra Republicana suggested the party should focus on policy instead. The clash comes after Puigdemont‘s own party coordinator suggested abandoning a unilateral claim for independence in favor of talks with Madrid officials.

After the ill-fated declaration of independence in October prompted many companies to register outside Catalonia and ultimately led the government of Mariano Rajoy to seize control of the rebel region, polls show the independence movement risks losing control of the Catalan assembly.