The Catalan government isn't turning down the invitation from the speaker of the Spanish Congress, Ana Pastor, for president Quim Torra to appear in the lower house to explain his proposals, but they want more details. "Are we talking about a monographic debate on the situation in Catalonia, on the lack of democracy and the violation of rights, on the right to decide, which has great consensus in Catalonia?" asked government spokesperson and presidency minister Elsa Artadi in a press conference after today's cabinet meeting.
The speaker made the invitation during a breakfast this morning, for him to explain his position and to listen to the other political parties. She argued for dialogue to be broached in the institutions, not just in the media.
In response, Artadi said: "we're not turning it down, but we want to know more details. We're open to anything which is debate or dialogue". She also clarified that they haven't received a formal invitation, so only have the public statements to go on which they heard during the cabinet meeting.
#Portaveu @elsa_artadi: "la proposta d’Ana Pastor d’anar al @Congreso_es no sabem si la idea és fer un monogràfic sobre la situació de Catalunya, la manca de democràcia i vulneració de drets. Estudiarem en funció del que vol proposar” pic.twitter.com/QakAhUnwkk
— Govern. Generalitat (@govern) 4 de septiembre de 2018
The Catalan government also notes that a year ago, Carles Puigdemont asked for a room in the Congress to explain his proposals, but Pastor refused. She offered him instead an appearance before a commission, followed by a vote. In the end, no agreement was reached and no appearance took place. Nor did Artadi overlook the fact that it's no longer Pastor's PP party in government, but PSOE.
The minister also asked the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, to clarify comments he made about the possibility of a referendum on self-government. She went on to say that that's not the question under debate by Catalan society ("the great consensus in Catalonia is on the right to decide"), and that Sánchez "has got a headline without knowing exactly what it is he wants to do".
Artadi insisted that the Catalan government is working within a framework of "dialogue and negotiation", but that they don't renounce the unilateral path.
Today's cabinet meeting came hours before president Quim Torra gave a speech to set out his government's plans following the summer break. Artadi also announced that the whole government, including the president, will attend the demonstration next week for the Diada, Catalonia's national day.