BARCELONA, Spain (AP) 鈥� Catalonia鈥檚 separatist movement has suffered its biggest rift since it became the leading political force in northeast Spain for the past decade after the junior member of its ruling coalition abandoned the region鈥檚 government.
The Together for Catalonia party announced Friday that it was leaving the Barcelona-based government headed regional President Pere Aragon猫s of senior coalition member Republican Left of Catalonia. The move came a week after its leading member in the Catalan Cabinet was fired by Aragon猫s.
The official breakup ends a partnership that had existed between the two main pro-secession parties since they joined forces for a regional election in 2015. They had the shared goal of boosting the separatists鈥� hold on power in the wealthy region, where from the rest of Spaniards.
鈥淚f we talk about winners or losers, Together for Catalonia wins and Pere Aragon猫s loses. He loses because he thought he could lead a coalition government, and today that is proven not to be true,鈥� Together for Catalonia leader Laura Borr脿s said. 鈥淔rom today, we join the opposition 鈥� we don鈥檛 want to be in any government that does not advance toward independence.鈥�
Aragon猫s, who came to power last year, said his party will try to rule in the minority and that he does not plan to bring forward regional elections now set for 2025. Still the political divorce is a blow to the region鈥檚 separatist push, which has been five years after its that landed several of its leaders in jail or on the run in Europe.
鈥淢y goal is that the winner is the country (of Catalonia),鈥� Aragon猫s said after Borr脿s鈥� scathing attack. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 serve the best interest of the citizenry by abandoning your responsibilities. I won鈥檛 do that.鈥�
The two rivals had managed to muddle along despite public discrepancies over what strategy to follow to reach the elusive dream of a breaking Catalonia away from the rest of Spain, an outcome that half of Catalans oppose.
Aragon猫s鈥� party backs negotiations with Spain鈥檚 central government, which have coincided with , as the only way to eventually secure an authorized referendum on independence.
Together for Catalonia, the party that was led by former Catalan chief Carles Puigdemont until earlier this year, insists that the talks are going nowhere and wants a more radical approach.
The Republican Left for Catalonia also plays a key role in Spain鈥檚 Parliament to help the nation鈥檚 left-wing coalition government led by Socialist Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez pass key bills and a budget. Aragon猫s may now need the S谩nchez鈥檚 to get anything done.
The tension reached its peak last week when Together for Catalonia asked Aragon猫s to face a no-confidence vote. Aragon猫s responded by axing his vice-president, Together for Catalonia鈥檚 top member in the government. Together for Catalonia then held a vote among its party members and 55% voted to leave the coalition.
The debacle for the Catalan secession push comes as Scottish nationalists are pushing for from Britain since the 鈥淣o鈥� side won in 2014.
Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press
