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Spain court suspends Catalonia independence referendum | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Spain's Constitutional Court has suspended Catalonia's planned independence referendum. | |
The court said it first needed to consider arguments whether the 9 November vote breached the country's constitution. | |
It acted on a request from the Spanish central government in Madrid. | |
The head of Catalonia, the wealthy north-eastern Spanish region, signed a decree on Saturday calling for the referendum. | |
But Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told reporters that the vote was not "compatible with the Spanish constitution". | |
"Nobody and nothing will be allowed to break up Spain." | |
He was speaking in a televised statement to the nation after holding an emergency cabinet meeting. | |
Hundreds of thousands of Catalans joined a protest in Barcelona recently, calling for their right to vote. | Hundreds of thousands of Catalans joined a protest in Barcelona recently, calling for their right to vote. |
Unhappy at Spain's refusal to give Catalans more powers, protesters have been energised by Scotland's recent independence referendum, and many also waved the Scottish flag. | Unhappy at Spain's refusal to give Catalans more powers, protesters have been energised by Scotland's recent independence referendum, and many also waved the Scottish flag. |
Local laws | Local laws |
Catalonia's 7.5 million inhabitants make up approximately 16 % of the population of Spain. Yet it is one of Spain's richest and most highly industrialised regions, as well as one of its most independent-minded. | Catalonia's 7.5 million inhabitants make up approximately 16 % of the population of Spain. Yet it is one of Spain's richest and most highly industrialised regions, as well as one of its most independent-minded. |
Spain's deepening economic crisis, though, has seen a surge in support for separation. | Spain's deepening economic crisis, though, has seen a surge in support for separation. |
Hours after Catalonia leader Artur Mas signed the decree on Saturday, the turnout marking a key annual day of celebration in Barcelona was substantial, with tens of thousands of people using the occasion to rally for the right to hold a referendum on independence. | |
"La Diada", as the 300th anniversary of the end of the city's siege is known locally, has become a show of force for the Catalan independence movement. | "La Diada", as the 300th anniversary of the end of the city's siege is known locally, has become a show of force for the Catalan independence movement. |
On 19 September, the regional Catalan parliament voted by 106 to 28 in favour of granting Catalonia's president the power to hold a referendum, known locally as a "consultation". | On 19 September, the regional Catalan parliament voted by 106 to 28 in favour of granting Catalonia's president the power to hold a referendum, known locally as a "consultation". |
Mr Mas, who was re-elected in December 2012, says he can use local laws to hold the vote, even though the central government says its blessing is required. | Mr Mas, who was re-elected in December 2012, says he can use local laws to hold the vote, even though the central government says its blessing is required. |
"I can't pretend that this will be easy, but it doesn't work just coming out to protest once a year," Mr Mas said on Catalan television at the weekend. | "I can't pretend that this will be easy, but it doesn't work just coming out to protest once a year," Mr Mas said on Catalan television at the weekend. |
"The future is something you conquer, not a gift, and we have to earn that," he added. | "The future is something you conquer, not a gift, and we have to earn that," he added. |
A recent poll for Spain's El Pais newspaper showed that 45% of Catalans were in favour of suspending the referendum if the Constitutional Court declared it illegal. | |
Only 23% would like the referendum to go ahead regardless, the survey suggested. | Only 23% would like the referendum to go ahead regardless, the survey suggested. |
Mr Mas has only recently become a supporter of full independence. Since 2007, he has spearheaded a push to revitalise Catalan nationalism known as the Refoundation of Catalanism. |