Catalonia moves to declare independence from Spain on Monday
Carles Puigdemont
Catalan President Carles Puigdemont  said  he  favored mediation to find a way out of the crisis but that Spainâs central government had rejected this. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoyâs government responded by calling on Catalonia to âreturn to the path of lawâ first before any negotiations.
 Puigdemont  told the BBC  he  would ask the regionâs parliament to declare independence following the referendum  which Spainâs government and constitutional court say was illegal and in which only a minority of Catalans voted.
In a televised address on Wednesday night   Puigdemont  said: âThis moment calls for mediation. We have received various offers in the last hours and we will receive more.â
Without specifically mentioning plans for an independence declaration   he  added: âI am sure that in the next few days we will show the best of our country when the institutions of Catalonia will have to apply the results of the referendum.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoyâs government replied that  Puigdemont  had wasted an opportunity to put Catalonia back on a legal course. âIf  Mr. Puigdemont  wants to talk or negotiate  or wants to send mediators   he  knows perfectly well what  he  must do first: Return to the path of the law â it said in a statement.
 Puigdemont  criticized Spainâs King Felipe VI who on Tuesday lambasted the âirresponsible behaviorâ of the Catalan leaders.
 He  said  the king  had disappointed many people in Catalonia by failing to call for dialogue and  he  accused King Felipe of endorsing the policies of Rajoy  which  he  said had been âcatastrophicâ for Catalonia.
Catalan Regional President Carles Puigdemont gestures as  he  makes an statement at Generalitat Palace in Barcelona  Spain  October 4  2017. Catalan Goverment/Jordi Bedmar Handout via REUTERS
[TGT] said   [TGT]   favored mediation to find a way out of the crisis but that Spainâs central government had rejected this. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoyâs government responded by calling on Catalonia to âreturn to the path of lawâ first before any negotiations.
  [TGT] told the BBC   [TGT]   would ask the regionâs parliament to declare independence following the referendum  which Spainâs government and constitutional court say was illegal and in which only a minority of Catalans voted.
In a televised address on Wednesday night    [TGT] said: âThis moment calls for mediation. We have received various offers in the last hours and we will receive more.â
Without specifically mentioning plans for an independence declaration   he  added: âI am sure that in the next few days we will show the best of our country when the institutions of Catalonia will have to apply the results of the referendum.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoyâs government replied that   [TGT] had wasted an opportunity to put Catalonia back on a legal course. âIf   [TGT] wants to talk or negotiate  or wants to send mediators    [TGT]   knows perfectly well what   [TGT]   must do first: Return to the path of the law â it said in a statement.
  [TGT] criticized Spainâs King Felipe VI who on Tuesday lambasted the âirresponsible behaviorâ of the Catalan leaders.
  [TGT] said  the king  had disappointed many people in Catalonia by failing to call for dialogue and  he  accused King Felipe of endorsing the policies of Rajoy  which  he  said had been âcatastrophicâ for Catalonia.
Catalan Regional President Carles Puigdemont gestures as  he  makes an statement at Generalitat Palace in Barcelona  Spain  October 4  2017. Catalan Goverment/Jordi Bedmar Handout via REUTERS