Brussels, 30/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - The possibility of holding a referendum on Catalonian self-determination on 9 November appears increasingly compromised.
On Monday 29 September, the Spanish constitutional court decided to suspend the regional law and decree recently signed on holding a consultative referendum, after the central Spanish government appealed against the decisions taken by the Catalan authorities. The suspension is valid for up to five months, time for the magistrates to reach a decision on the validity of the proceedings. Each of the parties has 20 days to put forward their respective legal arguments. The Catalan president, Artur Mas, criticised the “supersonic speed” with which the Court responded to the appeal of the Spanish government. The vice is tightening around Mas, who is now obliged to put a stop to all campaigning for the referendum on 9 November. He himself has admitted that he does not have a “plan B” but has not given up on the principle that the Catalan people must be able to express themselves on the question of their region's independence. The choices Mas now to make are: organising an illegal referendum, postponing the vote while negotiating with the central authorities or calling for early elections.
In Barcelona, a number of demonstrations have already taken place in response to the decision by the Court. Central government has said that it is confident that it will not have to resort to drastic measures in the event of on the constitutional court's decision being disobeyed. (MD)