Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy demanded that Catalonia’s leader clarify whether he declared independence, taking the first step toward potentially stripping the restive region of some of its powers and escalating his confrontation with the separatists.
BARCELONA—Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy demanded Wednesday that Catalonia’s leader clarify whether he declared independence, taking the first step toward potentially stripping the region of some of its powers and escalating his confrontation with the separatists.
In a strong warning to the separatist leader, Mr. Rajoy accused Carles Puigdemont of deliberately sowing confusion in a statement on Tuesday evening in which he declared the region an independent republic but immediately asked lawmakers to suspend the declaration. …
