Spain’s leader urges Catalan ‘sanity’

MADRID – Spain’s prime minister on Saturday called on Catalan leaders to return to dialogue, a day before the region was to hold an informal independence poll.

Mariano Rajoy said he expects “sanity” to return to northeastern Catalonia after the unofficial vote today that is to measure public support for secession from Spain. The consultation has been ruled unconstitutional by Spain’s judiciary.

Rajoy called on Catalonia’s leaders to begin talks “within the legal framework of the constitution.”

Catalonia, with about 7.5 million inhabitants and Barcelona as its capital, is one of Spain’s wealthiest regions.

A long-rumbling Catalan secessionist sentiment peaked during Spain’s economic downturn and amid dissatisfaction with the country’s refusal to allow the region greater autonomy and fiscal powers.