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Catalan Leaders Suspend Campaign for Independence Vote Catalan Leaders Suspend Plan for Ballot on Secession
(about 7 hours later)
MADRID — Catalonia’s regional government suspended its campaign for a planned independence vote on Tuesday in accordance with a ruling issued a day earlier by Spain’s Constitutional Court. MADRID — Catalonia’s regional government on Tuesday suspended its campaign for a planned independence vote in accordance with a ruling issued a day earlier by Spain’s Constitutional Court.
But the government said it would appeal the court order to suspend the vote preparations and insisted that the ruling had not ended its plans to get Catalonia’s 7.5 million citizens to vote on whether to secede from the rest of Spain. But the regional government said it would appeal the court order to suspend the vote preparations and insisted that the ruling had not ended its plans for a ballot to determine whether Catalonia’s 7.5 million citizens would secede from the rest of Spain.
The Catalan secession campaign comes two weeks after voters in Scotland rejected independence from Britain, but in a referendum authorized by the British government in London. The fight over Catalonia’s future is proving more contentious and has turned into the biggest political challenge for Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister, since he took office in late 2011. Mr. Rajoy has vowed to prevent a secession vote, scheduled for Nov. 9, saying it would violate Spain’s Constitution. The suspension of the Catalan secession campaign came 12 days after voters in Scotland rejected independence from Britain, through a referendum authorized by the British government in London. The fight over Catalonia’s future is proving more contentious and has turned into the biggest political challenge for Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister, since he took office in late 2011. Mr. Rajoy has vowed to prevent a secession vote, scheduled for Nov. 9, saying it would violate Spain’s Constitution.
Francesc Homs, the spokesman for Catalonia’s regional government, told reporters on Tuesday that the suspension of the campaign was temporary and “precautionary,” to ensure that civil servants did not risk administrative sanctions for helping to prepare an illegal vote while the government appeals the decision. The court has five months to issue a final ruling, but the Catalan government said it hoped that the legal battle would be resolved much more quickly. Francesc Homs, the spokesman for Catalonia’s regional government, told reporters on Tuesday that the suspension of the campaign was temporary and “precautionary,” to ensure that civil servants did not risk administrative sanctions for helping to prepare an illegal vote while the regional government appeals the court order. The court has five months to issue a final ruling, but the Catalan government said it hoped that the legal battle would be resolved much more quickly.
“The government of Catalonia isn’t slowing down,” Mr. Homs said. Residents, he added, should in fact feel free to continue pushing the vote while the legal and political tussle continues. “The government of Catalonia isn’t slowing down,” Mr. Homs said. Residents, he added, should feel free to continue promoting the vote while the legal and political tussle continues.
Indeed, as politicians consider how best to respond to the opposition from Madrid, Catalans are expected to take to the streets in coming days to help keep their secessionist ambitions alive. Residents were encouraged to convene in front of the town halls of Catalonia on Tuesday evening to protest the suspension. The protest is being organized by the same civic group that gathered hundreds of thousands of pro-independence Catalans in downtown Barcelona on Sept. 11, Catalonia’s National Day. Indeed, as politicians consider how best to respond to the opposition from Madrid, Catalans are expected to take to the streets to help keep their secessionist ambitions alive. Residents were encouraged to convene in front of the town halls of Catalonia on Tuesday evening to protest the suspension. The protest is being organized by the same civic group that gathered hundreds of thousands of pro-independence Catalans in central Barcelona on Sept. 11, Catalonia’s National Day.
Last weekend, after signing a decree authorizing the vote, Artur Mas, the Catalan leader and chairman of the Convergence and Union party, insisted there was no Plan B. The Catalan government is financing the campaign with a budget of $11.3 million, and is preparing to set up 10,000 ballot boxes for about 5.4 million eligible voters. Last weekend, after signing a decree authorizing the vote, Artur Mas, the Catalan leader and head of the Convergence party, insisted there was no Plan B. The Catalan government is financing the campaign with a budget of $11.3 million and preparing to set up 10,000 ballot boxes for about 5.4 million eligible voters.
Still, Mr. Mas is expected to review his options in coming days with the leaders of the other main secessionist parties in Catalonia. He faces the difficult choice of either going ahead with an illegal vote or of delaying the vote to allow for further negotiations with Mr. Rajoy, which could spark greater protests in Catalonia. Still, Mr. Mas is expected to review his options with the leaders of the other main secessionist parties in Catalonia. He faces the difficult choice of either going ahead with an illegal vote or delaying the vote to allow for further negotiations with Mr. Rajoy, which could provoke greater protests in Catalonia.
He could also call early elections in Catalonia — with the risk that harder-line secessionist politicians would win and oust him and his party from power. To avoid such a scenario, Mr. Mas could negotiate instead with other party leaders to present a joint list of candidates and try to turn an early election into a de facto plebiscite on independence, without violating Spain’s Constitution. Mr. Mas could also call early elections in Catalonia, risking the possibility that harder-line secessionist politicians would win and oust him and his party from power. To avoid such an outcome, he could negotiate with other party leaders to present a joint list of candidates, then call an early election and turn it into a de facto plebiscite on independence, without violating Spain’s Constitution.