Catalonia President Artur Mas gives green light for independence vote
- 10 years ago
The President of Catalonia, Artur Mas, has signed a decree in Barcelona paving the way for a referendum on November 9 on independence from Spain, a move the government in Madrid has vowed to block.
It follows the move by the Catalan parliament last week, granting the president power to call a non-binding ‘consultation’ on independence.
Outside the regional government headquarters where the ceremony took place, hundreds of Catalan nationalists waved flags and chanted their support.
The central government opposes the vote which it says would be illegal under the Constitution, vowing to defend the unity of Spain.
It is expected to take immediate action to try to block the referendum, beginning with legal action before Spain’s Constitutional Court.
It could also move to suspend the powers of the Catalan regional parliament.
It follows the move by the Catalan parliament last week, granting the president power to call a non-binding ‘consultation’ on independence.
Outside the regional government headquarters where the ceremony took place, hundreds of Catalan nationalists waved flags and chanted their support.
The central government opposes the vote which it says would be illegal under the Constitution, vowing to defend the unity of Spain.
It is expected to take immediate action to try to block the referendum, beginning with legal action before Spain’s Constitutional Court.
It could also move to suspend the powers of the Catalan regional parliament.