Politicians face criminal charges as Spain vows to revoke law
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says he will ask Spain’s constitutional court to revoke a referendum law passed on Wednesday by the Catalan parliament that sets the stage for an October 1 vote on splitting from Spain.
Rajoy told a press conference that the law, passed by a majority of Catalan lawmakers, was unconstitutional.
Spain’s state prosecutors’ office said on Thursday it would present criminal charges against leading members of the Catalan parliament for allowing Wednesday’s parliamentary vote to go ahead.
#BREAKING Spain PM Rajoy brands Catalan independence vote ‘intolerable act of disobedience’
— AFP news agency (@AFP) 7 septembre 2017
What happened on Wednesday?
Catalonia’s parliament voted on Wednesday to hold an independence referendum on October 1.
The winners, led by regional head Carles Puigdemont, sang the Catalan national anthem once the votes were counted.
After 12 hours of what was often chaotic debate in the Barcelona parliament, a majority voted for the referendum and the legal framework to set up a new state.
Catalonia to hold independence vote despite anger in Madrid https://t.co/MKIlYQ4jFN
— The Guardian (@guardian) 6 septembre 2017
What are the details of the referendum?
They were revealed amid a tense atmosphere in the 135-seat regional government.
All Spanish citizens living in Catalonia will be asked “Do you want Catalonia to be an independent republic?”
There will be no minimum turnout requirement to make the result of the referendum binding.
Carles Puigdemont says ballot boxes, voting papers and an electoral census are at the ready.
The new assembly would declare independence within 48 hours of a “yes” vote.
Acabo de signar, amb tot el
govern</a>, la convocatòria del referèndum d'autodeterminació de Catalunya. Per la llibertat i la democràcia! <a href="https://t.co/Q5h7z2abPN">pic.twitter.com/Q5h7z2abPN</a></p>— Carles Puigdemont (KRLS) 6 septembre 2017
But not everyone was in favour?
No. Lawmakers who opposed independence abandoned the chamber before the vote, with some leaving Catalan flags in their empty seats.
How has Spain responded?
The government in Madrid has vowed to stop what it says will be an illegal vote.
The government has asked the Spanish constitutional court to declare the referendum law void as soon as it is approved by the regional parliament.
The Spanish constitution states the country is indivisible.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told a news conference on Monday the government would come down with all the force of the law to ensure no referendum would go ahead.
MADRID (AP) – #Spain‘s prime minister says government asking for top court to suspend #Catalonia referendum on independence
— Matt Lee (@APDiploWriter) 7 septembre 2017
Has this happened before?
Yes. Courts have already suspended from office and leveled millions of euros in fines at Catalan politicians who organised a non-binding referendum in 2014.
It returned a “yes” vote on a low turnout.
What do the polls say?
Polls in the northeastern region show support for self-rule waning as Spain’s economy improves.
However, the majority of Catalans do want the opportunity to vote on whether to split from Spain.
What they are saying
El Parlament aprova per majoria absoluta la Llei del Referèndum!
— Oriol Junqueras (@junqueras) 6 septembre 2017
Conjurats amb la llibertat i la democràcia! SeguimForcadellCarme</a> i <a href="https://twitter.com/KRLS">KRLSpic.twitter.com/2XgRY9XxzN
“Committed to freedom and democracy! We push on!” – Catalonia’s deputy governor Oriol Junqueras tweeted.
““What is happening in the Catalan parliament is embarrassing, it is shameful,” – Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria told reporters.
“You will not split up Spain, but you are breaking up Catalonia, you are putting social harmony at risk,” – Alejandro Fernandez of the governing People’s Party told pro-independence lawmakers.
