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| Court puts halt to Catalan independence bid to hear central government appeal | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Spain’s constitutional court has suspended a Catalan law that set out a roadmap to independence, halting the region’s secession drive just two days after it was formally launched. | |
| In a special meeting on Wednesday, the court unanimously agreed to hear the central government’s challenge to the Catalan legislation. The decision means the Catalan motion will be suspended for up to five months while judges hear arguments and reach a decision. | |
| The court announced the suspension hours after the central government said it had filed the legal challenge against the Catalan legislation, which Spain’s prime minister described as an affront to democracy. | |
| “It’s not just a reaction to a motion passed in parliament, this is about defending a whole country,” the prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, said on Wednesday. | “It’s not just a reaction to a motion passed in parliament, this is about defending a whole country,” the prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, said on Wednesday. |
| He pointed to the country’s constitution, which impedes regions from unilaterally making decisions that affect all Spaniards, to back his view. “This is a blatant disregard for the state’s institutions. They are trying to do away with democracy. I will not allow it.” | He pointed to the country’s constitution, which impedes regions from unilaterally making decisions that affect all Spaniards, to back his view. “This is a blatant disregard for the state’s institutions. They are trying to do away with democracy. I will not allow it.” |
| The constitutional court is expected to agree to hear the appeal, which would automatically suspend the Catalan motion while judges hear arguments and reach a decision. | The constitutional court is expected to agree to hear the appeal, which would automatically suspend the Catalan motion while judges hear arguments and reach a decision. |
| The Catalan legislation calls for further laws to facilitate the creation of an independent social security system and tax authority within the next 30 days. In anticipation that it would be blocked by Spanish courts, the legislation also specifies that the regional parliament will no longer be bound to decisions made by institutions of the Spanish state, in particular the constitutional court. | The Catalan legislation calls for further laws to facilitate the creation of an independent social security system and tax authority within the next 30 days. In anticipation that it would be blocked by Spanish courts, the legislation also specifies that the regional parliament will no longer be bound to decisions made by institutions of the Spanish state, in particular the constitutional court. |
| The appeal filed by Rajoy’s conservative People’s party government retaliates with a request aimed at quelling defiance among Catalan leaders. The legal challenge singled out 21 high-ranking Catalan officials, from acting leader, Artur Mas, to house speaker, Carme Forcadell, and asked the court to warn them of the consequences of disregarding its orders. | The appeal filed by Rajoy’s conservative People’s party government retaliates with a request aimed at quelling defiance among Catalan leaders. The legal challenge singled out 21 high-ranking Catalan officials, from acting leader, Artur Mas, to house speaker, Carme Forcadell, and asked the court to warn them of the consequences of disregarding its orders. |
| Earlier this year, the central government passed legislation outlining steep sanctions and suspensions for leaders who fail to comply with the orders of the constitutional court. | Earlier this year, the central government passed legislation outlining steep sanctions and suspensions for leaders who fail to comply with the orders of the constitutional court. |
| After several stymied attempts to hold a formal referendum on independence, Catalan leaders have raised the stakes in recent months. In September, separatists sought to turn regional elections into a de facto referendum on independence. While the parties committed to outright independence garnered some 48% of the vote, they fell short of the 50% threshold that would have been required in a referendum to advance their agenda. | After several stymied attempts to hold a formal referendum on independence, Catalan leaders have raised the stakes in recent months. In September, separatists sought to turn regional elections into a de facto referendum on independence. While the parties committed to outright independence garnered some 48% of the vote, they fell short of the 50% threshold that would have been required in a referendum to advance their agenda. |
| On Wednesday, Rajoy sought to highlight what he saw as a hijacking of democracy by a minority. “We’re defending the rights of all citizens, particularly the rights of citizens in Catalonia,” he said. “They are trying to eliminate national sovereignty, to take away from Spaniards and many in Catalonia the right to decide what the country is, that does not happen in any country in the world and less so in the 21st century,” said Rajoy. | On Wednesday, Rajoy sought to highlight what he saw as a hijacking of democracy by a minority. “We’re defending the rights of all citizens, particularly the rights of citizens in Catalonia,” he said. “They are trying to eliminate national sovereignty, to take away from Spaniards and many in Catalonia the right to decide what the country is, that does not happen in any country in the world and less so in the 21st century,” said Rajoy. |
| Since the election in September, Catalan separatists have struggled to form a government. The nationalist coalition Junts pel Sí (Together for Yes) won 62 seats in the 135-seat parliament, while far-left pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy, known as CUP, won 10 seats, paving the way for a potential alliance that could see an openly secessionist government take the helm of one of Spain’s wealthiest regions. | Since the election in September, Catalan separatists have struggled to form a government. The nationalist coalition Junts pel Sí (Together for Yes) won 62 seats in the 135-seat parliament, while far-left pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy, known as CUP, won 10 seats, paving the way for a potential alliance that could see an openly secessionist government take the helm of one of Spain’s wealthiest regions. |
| But CUP has steadfastly refused to support Mas as leader, pointing to austerity measures implemented by his centre-right government and the string of corruption scandals plaguing his Democratic Convergence party. | But CUP has steadfastly refused to support Mas as leader, pointing to austerity measures implemented by his centre-right government and the string of corruption scandals plaguing his Democratic Convergence party. |
| On Tuesday, Mas failed to reach the necessary number of votes to be named as leader. The next vote is expected to be held on Thursday. The regional parliament has until 9 of January to form a government, or new elections must be called. | On Tuesday, Mas failed to reach the necessary number of votes to be named as leader. The next vote is expected to be held on Thursday. The regional parliament has until 9 of January to form a government, or new elections must be called. |