Spain's Constitutional Court freezes Catalonian referendum plans

Madrid, Sep 30 (IANS/EFE) Spain's Constitutional Court has suspended the referendum on Catalonian independence set for Nov 9 while justices study arguments from the Spanish government, which strongly opposes the poll, and the Catalan regional authority, which is just as strongly determined to make it happen.

In addition to a temporary freeze on plebiscite plans, the court Monday temporarily nullified the law passed by the Catalonian parliament that sidesteps articles in the Spanish constitution reserving to the central government the right to hold what the Catalans term a "consultation".

In Barcelona, Catalan President Artur Mas, who spearheaded the referendum drive, said the fact that the court had been convened and gone into session at "supersonic speed" is an indication of the "hostility" that motivates authorities in Madrid.

The court's move came the same day that the government of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy filed an appeal in response to the movement to decide if the wealthy northeastern region should declare its independence from Spain.

"Neither the object nor the procedure of the vote are compatible with the Spanish constitution," Rajoy said following a cabinet meeting in Madrid focused on the details of the appeal.

The prime minister described the planned referendum as "profoundly undemocratic".

"There is nothing, no one, and no power that can break the principle of sole sovereignty nor deprive the Spaniards of the right to decide the nature of their country," Rajoy said.

The prime minister offered Mas "dialogue within the law".

"There is still time to right the ship," he said.

The referendum, Rajoy said, is "against the law, ignoring democracy, dividing the Catalans, and pushing them away from Europe and the rest of Spain".

The cabinet agreed that holding the referendum would be a violation of the constitution, as it gives citizens of Catalonia the exclusive right to decide on the unity of the Spanish nation, a question that should be considered by all Spaniards.

--IANS/EFE

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