04/12/2012 00:00
TW
0

Barcelona.—Catalonia leader Artur Mas acknowledged yesterday he was struggling to form a coalition government after an election weakened him, and hoped for rivals' support to work towards regional self-determination. “The ideal thing would be a coalition government with those who favour self-determination, the right to decide in a consultation and overcoming the crisis,” he told reporters. “This seems not to be possible” with the left-wing party ERC which came second in the November 25 vote, he added, however, saying he was still working with it to try and achieve “maximum stability” to govern. “Without a strong and serious government, we will not overcome the crisis nor hold the consultation,“ said Mas, who studiously avoids using the words “referendum” and “independence” in his push for greater self-determination. Having retained the presidency of the northeastern Spanish region but with his parliamentary majority slashed, he said his programme now was to “defend the welfare state and organise the consultation”.

He called for “permanent support” from the left-wing ERC, which came second in the vote amid anger over a recession. But while the party shares his desire for a referendum, it opposes his austerity-led economic policies in the recession.