Politics this week

Catalonia’s president, Carles Puigdemont, declared that the Spanish region had voted for a mandate for independence at a referendum on October 1st, but said he intended to delay acting on it pending negotiations. Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, did not offer talks, asking instead whether Mr Puigdemont was declaring independence or not. A few days earlier, huge pro-Spanish-unity rallies took place in Madrid and Barcelona, urging Catalonia not to secede. See article.