Spain challenges Catalan independence move in court
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says Madrid has lodged an appeal with the Constitutional Court in a bid to challenge an independence drive by the country’s northeastern autonomous region of Catalonia.
Referring to a recent decision by Catalan lawmakers to launch an independence process, Rajoy told a news conference following Wednesday’s cabinet meeting that lawyers for the state had called on the court to "immediately suspend this resolution and all of its effects."
"It's not just a reaction to a motion passed in parliament, this is about defending a whole country," he added.
The remarks came two days after Catalonia’s regional parliament approved a resolution, urging the assembly to start working on legislation within 30 days to set up a separate treasury and social security system with the aim of forming a Catalan republic in 18 months.
The resolution has the support of the "Together for Yes" pro-independence alliance along with the leftist CUP party, which won 72 and 10 seats respectively in the 135-seat Barcelona-based legislature in the September 27 elections.
A judicial source, whose name was not revealed, said the court will begin examining the Spanish government's appeal against the Catalan parliament’s decision later on Wednesday. The court is widely expected to strike down the secession resolution.
The independence drive by Catalonia, which represents almost a fifth of Spain's economic output, has gained momentum in recent years.
The region of 7.5 million inhabitants has already a large degree of autonomy in areas such as health, education and policing. However, many Catalans complain that a high portion of their taxes goes to the central government in Madrid.
In November 2014, Catalan President Artur Mas staged a symbolic independence referendum after the government in Madrid blocked his bid to hold an official referendum. Nearly 80 percent of the 2.2 million people who took part in the vote backed secession, though the turnout was slightly more than 40 percent.
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