Madrid appeals Catalan independence declaration

By Alyssa McMurtry

The Spanish Constitutional Court has unanimously decided to suspend an independence resolution passed by Catalonia’s regional parliament.

The court said that the Catalan separatists could not proceed with actions they approved in a decree which laid the groundwork for the wealthy north-eastern region of Spain to become an independent republic.

Twenty-one politicians are to be personally “advised of their duty to stop or prevent any initiative that supposes ignoring or eluding agreed suspension, and are warned of eventual responsibilities, including the criminal, which could be incurred”.

Vice president of the Catalan regional government, Neus Munte, responded to the late Wednesday decision by saying that the regional body has the “will” to apply its independence resolution in spite of the court’s decision.

“The will is to move forward with the content of the resolution,” Munte told a press conference, adding: “The motives are clear: it is the mandate of a sovereign parliament.”

The independence motion was passed on Monday and declared it would “solemnly start the process to create an independent Catalan state in the form of a republic”.

Spain's central government had submitted 26-page appeal earlier on Wednesday to the Constitutional Court.

This decision by the court is not a ruling but, under Spanish procedural law, the Catalan resolution must be halted. The court now has five months to deliberate over the Catalan declaration and its constitutionality.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told a press conference earlier: “The government will firmly defend our democratic state of law. Our sovereignty cannot be divided or fragmented.”

“I have the backing of the immense majority of Spaniards and they can count on my commitment,” he added, reiterating a vow that he would not allow Catalonia to separate from Spain.

The declaration, which was passed by a vote of 72 to 63 in the Catalan parliament, explicitly says that the region will not necessarily obey Spanish institutions – including the Constitutional Court – which the declaration described as “delegitimized”.

It outlined a 30-day plan for lawmakers to draft legislation designed to lead to a Catalan constitution, a new social security system and a local treasury.

Catalan separatist parties won a majority in regional elections in September, and leaders insist they have a “democratic mandate” to separate from Spain.

However, Rajoy dismissed the independence drive: “They are trying to eliminate national sovereignty, to take away the right to decide what the country is from Spaniards across the whole of Spain and many in Catalonia.”

“That does not happen in any country in the world, and less so in the 21st century,” he added.

Leading separatist Munte accused Rajoy of challenging the resolution in front of the Constitutional Court and using justice “to put a gag on the desires of freedom and democracy”.