Spain: Early Catalan elections called out of "self-defence" - Artur Mas

Artur Mas, the President of Catalonia, accused the Spanish government of a "systematic attack" against Catalonia, during a press conference in the Palau de la Generalitat, Barcelona, Tuesday. Mas plans to test support for Catalan independence by holding regional elections one-year ahead of schedule, the president qualified his actions as being "for Catalonia, in protection of our self-governance." Mas continued, stating that the regional election results will allow Spain to hear "the heartbeat of the people of Catalonia," and that the regional elections will allow the area to "move forward." Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy responded to Mas, saying he would not allow anyone to break up Spain to threaten is economic recovery. Spain's economy is growing at its fastest since 2007, in the second quarter of this year, although unemployment remains above 20 percent.