Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has moved to block Catalonia’s efforts to split from Spain. He announced on Wednesday that his centre-right
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has moved to block Catalonia’s efforts to split from Spain.
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He announced on Wednesday that his centre-right government had filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court to try to invalidate a pro-independence resolution adopted two days earlier by the Catalan regional assembly.
“What we are asking is for the resolution and its effects to be suspended,” Rajoy said.
“Obviously a parliament can approve, within its powers, laws and resolutions that it considers to be timely and appropriate. This is an appeal against a resolution that aims to break up the unity of Spain.”
Monday’s breakaway moves spearheaded by Artur Mas, acting head of Catalonia’s government, have
deepened a stand-off with Madrid ahead of next month’s general election.
Catalan parliament passes motion declaring start of independence process https://t.co/9vLW0MQpwx pic.twitter.com/EiH7FGgyZ8
— El País in English (@elpaisinenglish) November 9, 2015
Dominated by pro-independence parties, the regional parliament has backed a process aimed at
forming a Catalan republic, in what is one of Spain’s wealthiest regions, within 18 months.
The declaration it has passed rejects Constitutional Court decisions as not legitimate.