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Spanish official calls for strong coalition gov't

Xinhua, January 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Acting Spanish Minister of Justice Rafael Catala on Monday called for a strong coalition government to be formed in Madrid to prevent the moves of the Catalan region towards independence.

Speaking on Spanish radio station ONDA Cero the day after Carles Puigdemont promised during his investiture as the President of the Catalan region to follow a roadmap towards establishing Catalan independence within 18 months, Catala insisted in the need for a united response from Madrid.

The results of the Dec. 20 general election has left a hung parliament in the Spanish Congress and Catala said the best way forward was a three-party coalition between the People's Party (PP), the Socialist (PSOE) party and the center-right force Citizens.

"A strong central government with the PSOE and Citizens" was necessary "in order to defend the unity of all Spanish people," said Catala, who asked for "maximum agility" in the formation of a new central government.

"We have to be able to find those common elements in the most relevant aspects in order to face this new period with challenges to the economic policy, employment, public services and above all the defense of the unity of Spain," said Catala, who added the state would use all legal means in its power to prevent a breakaway of Catalonia.

The general election left the PP with 123 seats, the PSOE with 90, Citizens 40 and left wing formation Podemos 69 seats. The newly elected members will take their seats in congress for the first time on Wednesday as efforts continue to try and form a stable government. Endit