Advertisement

Catalan parliament okays independence vote law

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Catalan parliament okays independence vote law
The law was passed with 106 votes in favour and 28 against. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Catalonia's regional parliament on Friday passed a law that its leaders say will authorise them to hold a non-binding "consultation" on independence from Spain on November 9.

Advertisement

The law was passed with 106 votes in favour and 28 against.

The move -- announced a day after Scottish voters rejected independence -- is opposed by Spain's central government, which has already said it will challenge the Catalan law in the nation's Constitutional Court.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has argued that only the central government has the power to call a referendum on sovereignty.

Proud of their distinct Catalan language and culture, many of Catalonia's 7.5 million inhabitants feel short-changed by the national government in Madrid, which redistributes their taxes.

Catalonia formally adopted the status of a "nation" in 2006 but Spain's Constitutional Court later overruled that claim.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also