We must have serious dialogue between Catalonia and the Spanish state on a referendum, on independence, and on how a separation from Spain - if that's what the Catalan people choose - would be accomplished.

The alternative to independence is decline, because the relationship with the Spanish state is not good; everyone knows that.

We're seeing a reaction - and people taking to the streets with pots and pans - in areas where the independence movement isn't supposed to exist. People have to choose between one model and another. Everyone in Catalonia has realised that not taking part means ratifying the politics of repression of the Spanish government.

There's a serious and worrying return to the fall of democracy in Spain, and it's not just us who are realising that.

Spain's parties must steel themselves to do the sensible thing and treat the Catalonia issue with the seriousness it deserves.

We do not want to turn our back on Spain. It's the opposite. We are convinced that a relationship between equals will improve our relationship.