Carles Puigdemont speaking to Catalonia’s regional parliament. Photo: Lluis Gene/AFP Catalan president Carles Puigdemont has told the region’s parliament he ‘assumes the mandate’ for an independent republic but asked for the effects of the declaration to be suspended in order to ‘enter into dialogue’. In a speech to regional lawmakers at an extraordinary parliamentary session … Continue reading Catalan leader ‘assumes mandate for independent state’ but asks to suspend declaration