MADRID
Spain's Constitutional Court has declared that Catalonia's independence vote last November was illegal.
More than two million Catalans took part in the symbolic vote for the region's independence on Nov. 9, which Spain's authorities later claimed was a "complete failure" and vowed to sue Catalonia for going against a decision of the Constitutional Court.
The court ruled on Wednesday that such referenda could only be held if Spanish government allows them.
Artur Mas, the president of the Catalan Government, said after the court's decision: "The only legal way for Catalans to decide their future is in a parliamentary election in September 27."
Spain was ready to negotiate with Catalonia through legal means, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in parliament on Tuesday.
The majority of Catalonia's 7.5 million inhabitants support an official vote on independence.
