Spain aims to kill Catalonia’s independence vote

The Spanish government is, unsurprisingly, appealing to the courts to stop Catalonia’s independence vote from going forward. On Monday, the government filed an appeal against the measure as Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called it “a grave attack on the rights of all Spaniards.” He added (via WSJ): The court’s unanimous decision to hear the government’s case automatically suspended the Nov. 9 vote from going forward until the court hears arguments and makes a decision, a court statement said. That process could take months or years. However, leaders of the rich northeastern region vowed to press ahead anyway with preparations for the vote.

There is nothing and no one, no power nor institution, that can break this principle of sole sovereignty.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy

On Saturday, Catalonia President Artur Mas went forward with a decree that officially called for a vote on the issue of Catalan independence in November, despite warnings that it would be deemed illegal. As with Scotland’s reason for independence, Catalonia’s frustration with the Spanish government comes in part from being the wealthiest region in the country. Catalonia’s separate historical legacy and identity is even more stratified with nearly half of the region speaking Catalan as its primary language. Rajoy has said that the Spanish government is willing to negotiate over issues like taxes and autonomy if the Catalan referendum is scrapped.

Like all the nations of the world, Catalonia has the right to decide its political future

Catalonia President Artur Mas