Catalan strike severs road links as secessionist leader regroups
Carles Puigdemont
Reuters saw hundreds of strikers gathered in Barcelonaâs main Sant Jaume square to protest the imprisonment of politicians  chanting the name of  ex-leader Carles Puigdemont  and referring to  him  as âour presidentâ.
But  he  faces an uphill task to maintain influence after  he  missed a deadline of midnight on Tuesday to agree a pro-secessionist pact for a regional election with  his  former vice president Oriol Junqueras.
 Puigdemont  had ambitions to garner support for  his  independence campaign in the heartland of the European Union.
But that hope has fallen flat  and in an interview published on Wednesday  he  renewed criticism of the blocâs executive.
â(EU Commission President Jean-Claude) Juncker welcomes mayors  governors ... but he doesnât want to meet me â  Puigdemont  told Belgian Daily De Standaard.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy  who has been unwavering in  his  opposition to any form of independence for Catalonia  said he hoped next monthâs election would usher in âa period of calmâ and business as usual for the region.
Reuters saw hundreds of strikers gathered in Barcelonaâs main Sant Jaume square to protest the imprisonment of politicians  chanting the name of  ex-leader  [TGT]   and referring to  him  as âour presidentâ.
But  he  faces an uphill task to maintain influence after  he  missed a deadline of midnight on Tuesday to agree a pro-secessionist pact for a regional election with  his  former vice president Oriol Junqueras.
 Puigdemont  had ambitions to garner support for  his  independence campaign in the heartland of the European Union.
But that hope has fallen flat  and in an interview published on Wednesday  he  renewed criticism of the blocâs executive.
â(EU Commission President Jean-Claude) Juncker welcomes mayors  governors ... but he doesnât want to meet me â  Puigdemont  told Belgian Daily De Standaard.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy  who has been unwavering in  his  opposition to any form of independence for Catalonia  said he hoped next monthâs election would usher in âa period of calmâ and business as usual for the region.