Catalan separatist parties propose parliament vote on independence

Two key Catalan separatist parties on Friday tabled a proposal to declare it an independent republic, ahead of a meeting in which lawmakers are set to vote on how to react to Spanish government attempts to rein in the region's autonomy.

The proposal submitted by Junts pel Si (JxSi "Together for Yes") and Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) contained a formal declaration of independence and the opening of a constitutional process to set the creation of a new state in motion, reports Efe news.

The proposal envisages the creation of an independent Catalan republic, a step that would remove King Felipe as head of state, as Spain is currently a constitutional monarchy.

The Spanish Senate is currently debating the measures underpinning Article 155, a constitutional mechanism that brings autonomies under the central government's direct rule and which was triggered in Catalonia following a bid for independence.

The conservative government, led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, wants to remove Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and his cabinet from their posts, limit the functions of the local parliament, impose direct Madrid rule on some Catalan ministries and institutions as well as call fresh elections.

Puigdemont on Thursday refused to convene elections as he considered Rajoy's government had not provided enough guarantees.

Madrid and Barcelona have been at loggerheads since an independence referendum went ahead on October 1 in defiance of a ruling from the Constitutional Court -- the highest rung of Spain's judiciary -- that had dismissed it as illegal.

--IANS

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