Spanish Health Minister; Dolors Montserrat believes responsibility for the disturbances after the Catalan Independence Referendum on Sunday lies with President Puigdemont.

Montserrat was born in Barcelona and played a key role in the negotiations which facilitated the creation of the coalition government in Spain.

Monserrat said: ‘‘You cannot challenge democracy, We live in one of the great democracies of Europe and the world where law makes us all the same. Those who break the law can’t do it with impunity.’‘

‘’ Today the responsibility lies with President Puigdemont, who mobilized so many people by lying to them by telling them that it was a legal referendum and to vote when the Spanish government, public authorities and the rule of law all said that it was an illegal referendum and to abandon it and and return to a legal framework.’‘

‘’ The most important thing is that they give up the illegality, where you can talk about and discuss whatever you want. This confrontation and division has provoked all citizens. It will take a long time to heal those wounds and the only way to heal the wounds is by democracy with your words and with the law.’‘

The Spanish Government has defended its reponse to Sunday’s Catalan referendum and said police were acting to defend the constitution and Spanish democracy.