Spain's Catalonia region calls independence referendum

Barcelona, Sep 27 (IANS/EFE) The head of Spain's northeastern autonomous community of Catalonia, Artur Mas, Saturday signed a decree calling an independence referendum Nov 9, although the national government in Madrid vowed to challenge the planned vote before the Constitutional Court.

This follows the recent independence referendum in Scotland where the Scots voted to stay with Britain.

The nationalist CiU coalition, which governs Catalonia, had promised during regional elections in 2012 to formally call an independence referendum. It is supported in that push by other pro-secession parties and grassroots organisations.

Mas said Saturday in signing the decree at a solemn ceremony at the regional government's headquarters in Barcelona that it marked a "before and after" for Catalonia, but at the same time he said he was willing to negotiate the conditions of the plebiscite with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's administration.

Minutes afterward, however, Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said in a public appearance that she "deeply" regretted the decree calling for the independence vote and said it "won't be held because it's unconstitutional".

Responding to Mas's call for negotiations, the deputy prime minister said the Spanish government has always been open to dialogue within the framework of the law and democracy.

Saenz de Santamaria said an emergency cabinet meeting would be held Monday to prepare a legal challenge before the Constitutional Court.

Rajoy, who is on an official visit to China, said Saturday in an informal conversation with journalists that Mas should consider the consequences of his initiatives before adopting them.

The prime minister, leader of the ruling Popular Party, has said the planned independence vote was illegal because Spain's constitution gives the national government the exclusive right to call referendums.

The main opposition Socialists Saturday also slammed the secession push by Catalonia and said the call for the independence referendum violated the nation's charter.

Based on the decree signed Saturday, just over a week after Scotland voted against seceding from Britain, Catalans would be asked two questions: "Do you want Catalonia to be a state?" and, if so, "Do you want that state to be independent?"

--IANS/EFE

ab/bg