Declaring outright independence in a speech before the kaplan parliament he called for the escalation of tension and said he was ready for dialogue with the Spanish Government he said millions of his citizens believe catalonia should have its own stay in that he had a clear mandate to declare independence but wants to negotiate fast. As president its my responsibility to declare that catalonia should become an independent state in the shape of a republic we asked the parliament to suspend any effects of the declaration of independence so that we can have dialogue and so that we can find the necessary solution we need to lower tensions and show our will and commitment to meet the demands of the catalan people alive now to join hollers outside the Catalan Parliament in barcelona jonah was this the announcement many people were expecting. Well i think a lot of people would have gone away deeply disappointed staunch secessionists to the hope perhaps that this was going to be their night bu