Brussels, 22/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - Catalonia is defying the authorities in Madrid by legally confirming that it will be holding a referendum on Catalonia's self-determination. On Friday 19 September, the autonomous regional parliament adopted the decree authorising the Catalan government to organise non-binding mass consultations and, de facto, a referendum on 9 November next, based on the Scottish model. Two questions will be put to Catalan citizens to decide: whether they want their region to become a state and if so whether it should be independent. The principle was approved by 106 deputies, while 28 voted against, but the law still needs to be signed by the President of Catalonia, Artur Mas, who is also the leader of the independence movement. By announcing that this would be signed over the next few days, the latter will effectively have to confront central government over the issue.
On this question, the authorities in Madrid have been adamant in their rejection of a referendum on self-determination being organised and they intend to oppose this decision at the Constitutional Court. A boost in this direction is expected to be given by the Spanish Council of State ministerial meeting, once Artur Mas has given his official go-ahead for a referendum. Proceedings at the Constitutional Court could be concluded quite swiftly but the regional law could become effective later and the Court would have less time left to it to ban the referendum. (MD)