国际英语新闻:Spanish gov't spokesman says elections to give stability, security to Catalonia

MADRID, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Spanish government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo said Friday that the elections called for the Catalan region on Dec. 21 would bring "stability, security and certainty", insisting they would be "transparent and under democratic control."

The comments come a week after Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy invoked Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution to dissolve the Catalan regional government, and a day after the Spanish High Court sent nine members of the former government to prison while they are being investigated for charges of rebellion, sedition, and misuse of public funds.

The spokesman added the elections would end the "social and economic instability and the deterioration of coexistence" in Catalonia, and would help regain confidence in the region's economy.

He added that during Friday's cabinet meeting, the Spanish government had agreed to appeal to the Constitutional Court against three laws approved by the former government of Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, among them, the Catalan law to combat climate change.

Also on Friday, the Spanish national court rejected the appeal of the leaders of pro-Catalan independence groups, Omnium Cultural and the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), against the decision taken by Judge Lamela to remand them in custody without bail, pending investigation on charges of sedition.

Jordi Sanchez, the ANC leader, and Jordi Cuixart, the Omnium Cultural leader, have already spent 18 days in the Soto de Manzanares prison outside Madrid, having been sent there on Oct. 17.