Catalan Leader Is Said to Stall Seeking Concession From Madrid

(Bloomberg) -- Catalan President Carles Puigdemont is holding off announcing snap regional elections because he wants a conciliatory gesture from officials in Madrid, according to two people familiar with the talks.

Puigdemont decided to call a vote rather than declare independence this week on the understanding that the Spanish government would throttle back the process of seizing control of the regional administration, the people said, asking not to identified. Government officials insisted Thursday that the Catalan government will be ousted regardless of what Puigdemont decides.

Those comments persuaded Puigdemont to delay a statement initially scheduled for 1:30 p.m., the people said.

©2017 Bloomberg L.P.