In their meeting yesterday evening, Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy and opposition leader Pedro Sánchez agreed to put constitutional reform on the table. The pact was announced by PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) leader Sánchez this Wednesday, the day after Catalan president Carles Puigdemont declared independence and immediately suspended its effects in the Catalan Parliament. The topic will be debated in the territorial commission of the Spanish Congress. In exchange, Sánchez has supported the prime minister in the message he sent Puigdemont this morning, the first step to applying article 155 of the Constitution and revoking Catalan autonomy.
Sánchez explained that the two leaders agreed on the necessity to discuss constitutional reform, arguing that "the best way to defend our Constitution is its reform, updating and modernisation". This will be considered first in the Congress' territorial commission, to start work as soon as possible. It will then pass to the same chamber's constitutional commission. Details are to be given by Rajoy this afternoon.
PSOE's leader supported the Spanish government in requiring Carles Puigdemont to clarify the status of the declaration of independence: "We share the need for Puigdemont to clarify what he meant." "Apparently he didn't say it, but in the eyes of the pro-independence parties he said it," he added, referring to a declaration of independence.
PSOE "will always support the rule of law" in the face of any challenge from the "secessionist block", said Sánchez, warning that "as has become evident, the situation runs the risk of becoming even more bogged down".