Brussels, 14/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - There will be no referendum on self-determination for Catalonia, contrary to the hopes and wishes of the president of this autonomous Spanish region. On Tuesday 14 October, Artur Mas had to change tack, while still promising that Catalans would still be able to cast their votes on 9 November.
The non-binding referendum called by the Catalan authorities was suspended by the Spanish constitutional court at the end of September. At the request of Madrid, which has always opposed any such plebiscite, the court is currently assessing the legality of the referendum.
Given the few “legal guarantees” that the referendum would be “meaningful”, Mas decided not to hold it. However, all would not seem to be lost for his dreams of independence as he has announced that Catalans will still be able to take part in an unofficial consultation, with no legal status, on 9 November. Though the polling stations will be open, “this will not be the definitive consultation” but “the one before the definitive one”. Forced into an about-turn, Mas has criticised the Spanish government, accusing it of being a “powerful adversary because it is denying us the possibility of voting and of being consulted as a nation”.
Madrid reassured. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, whose People's Party lodged the appeal against the referendum with the constitutional court, did not hide his relief at the Catalan president's announcement. He said that the decision not to hold the referendum in Catalonia was “excellent news”. He called for dialogue among all Spaniards “to build a project together”. (MD)