barcelona moments catalonia leader carles puigdemont baulk declare independence spain week crack already appear secessionist rank members political alliance say wait barcelona 18th-century regional parliament build tuesday even fully expect call independence vote chamber night instead arrive late cheer thousands supporters former journalist lifetime advocate independence tell ally hour enter chamber late change plan accord one present would vote instead puigdemont make symbolic declaration independence suspend call negotiations madrid annoy hurt angry come strategic change one hour parliamentary session say carles riera member catalan parliament far-left cup party back unequivocal declaration independence whose support keep puigdemont minority government alive spokesman puigdemont party deny surprise political ally say core coalition agree plan morning cup include morning meet inform afterwards spokesman say without say cup claim betrayal reveal shaky political foundations upon catalonia independence movement build jumble party range anti-capitalists free marketeers whose common cause split spain doubt puigdemont ability survive bad confrontation catalonia former principality language culture madrid 40 years members cup say puigdemont lose nerve crucial moment one cup lawmaker present meet eulalia reguant quit day cite reversal instead persuade spanish prime minister mariano rajoy accept talk gesture meet ultimatum renounce independence thursday madrid use constitutional power take control region directly puigdemont 54 find struggle madrid also internally cup may end big danger political career prospect win another regional election pro-independence platform small cup party oust puigdemont predecessor catalan president artur mas 2015. refuse back mainstream independence coalition junts pel si unless mas step puigdemont back say try work unilateral secession doable think cup support say eurasia analyst federico santi say puigdemont party already slide opinion poll final hour puigdemont stand regional parliament announce suspend independence push also make clear political circle voice ones matter talk world tell press explanation accord two people present room say suspect take phone call senior eu figure brussels though head two main eu political institutions jean-claude juncker donald tusk say one eu official however say reason believe emotional personal appeal tusk make publicly puigdemont couple hours due speak weigh catalan leader decision puigdemont always consider world opinion crucial catalan independence journalist 1990s travel europe research media impressions catalonia write book cata ... que cata ... supporter european union switch easily catalan spanish french romanian native language wife meet catalan news agency found president make speech much address eu institutions governments catalan government source say condition anonymity puigdemont also make clear consider would spain responsibility reject offer dialogue several neighbor countries criticize spain use force disrupt catalonia oct. independence referendum ban madrid hundreds injure police use batons rubber bullets voters crackdown though fire independence supporters harden expectations among puigdemont base would unilaterally declare independence parliament supporters watch speech large screen outside assembly bury head hand weep roll catalan flag go home inside recriminations well underway lawmakers puigdemont junts pel si coalition say inform tactic 11th hour though spokesman puigdemont party deny government source say catalan company leave region days speech also weigh puigdemont mind several firm include catalonia two major bank move legal headquarter part spain anxious catalan depositors travel neighbor regions open bank account jordi alberich director barcelona-based business association cercle economia meet puigdemont oct. 7. seem conscious consequences unilateral declaration independence alberich say worry company flee catalonia 's independence leader wag battle unity