Spain’s Prime Minister Threatens to Extend Direct Rule Over Catalonia
Nevertheless, as Mr. Rajoy was speaking, a court in Barcelona found the former governing party of Catalonia guilty of taking bribes worth about
6.6 million euros while awarding building contracts to renovate one of the city’s most famous concert halls, the Palau de la Música.
The former treasurer of the party, called Convergence, Daniel Osàcar, was sentenced to four years
and five months in prison, while a dozen former officials and consultants who worked for the concert hall also received prison sentences.
His successor as party leader, Artur Mas, embraced the independence drive in 2012, after a dispute with Mr. Rajoy over whether the wealthy region of Catalonia should gain better fiscal treatment in a Spanish tax system
that redistributes money to the poorer regions from the richer ones.
In Madrid, Mr. Rajoy is also under increased pressure, after calling a snap election in Catalonia
that yielded another separatist victory and instead sank his own Popular Party, which came in last.
Supported by By Raphael Minder BARCELONA — Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain threatened on Monday to prolong his government’s
direct rule over Catalonia if separatist lawmakers try to allow Carles Puigdemont to run the region from exile.
On Monday, Mr. Mas defended his party, as well as his former party treasurer, who is among those appealing the sentences.