If Spain’s wealthy north-eastern region of Catalonia claims independence from the rest of the country, it would be automatically forced out of the euro area and was likely to drop from the EU, the Bank of Spain Governor said.
Uncertainties and tensions over the result of the regional election on Sunday, which could lead to a unilateral claim of independence, are affecting Catalan and Spanish banks, Luis Maria Linde said on Monday. He also said that a new process of consolidation among Spanish banks was a possibility.