Leaders in Catalonia vowed on Wednesday to press ahead with their independence campaign despite a ruling from Spanish judges who said the region had no right to call a referendum on secession.
Campaigners in the heavily indebted region had planned to organise a vote on independence shortly after a similar referendum in Scotland later this year, but Spain's Constitutional Court on Tuesday ruled that such a move would be illegal.
"The political process continues," Catalonia's President Artur Mas told the regional parliament. "Each hurdle we encounter on this road, we will find a way around."
The court ruled that a declaration of sovereignty last year by Catalan lawmakers was illegal under the 1978 constitution, which also forbids them from unilaterally calling a referendum.
The national government has vehemently opposed Catalonia's steps towards independence, calling for unity as Spain crawls out of its economic crisis.
Catalans say they should have same right to vote on independence as the Scots, who are due to hold a referendum in September -- a move authorised by the British government.
Spain's conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy insisted last month that in Spain such a referendum "can't take place".
A senior ruling party leader, Carlos Floriano, said on Wednesday the court's judgement "made it very clear that national sovereignty lies with the Spanish people" as a whole.
He called on Mas's CiU coalition to "recover the common sense required by all leaders and abandon this path".
Both Rajoy's conservative Popular Party and the main opposition Socialist party oppose the referendum.
The national parliament, controlled by the Popular Party, is to debate the issue on April 8.
Mas said he would use that occasion to formally ask Spanish lawmakers to grant the Catalan parliament the right to call a referendum.
- Rocky road to referendum -
The Catalan and national press broadly agreed that the court ruling had strengthened the central government's hand.
"The Constitutional Court's ruling is clear and leaves no room for partisan interpretations," wrote centre-right national daily El Mundo in an editorial.
Analysts said a non-binding vote designed to show the region's desire for independence and constitutional change might still be legal, but was unlikely given the national government's opposition.
"The ruling opens the door to political dialogue but gives no scope for a consultation to be viable," said Xavier Arbos, an expert in constitutional law at Barcelona University.
"The Constitutional Court allows the possibility to continue debating this issue, without that being interpreted as giving the right to self-determination," Arbos told AFP.
Proud of their distinct language and culture, many in Catalonia say they feel short-changed by the central government.
As Spain's main economic engine, Catalonia's 7.5 million citizens resent the redistribution of their taxes to other regions.
The real estate crash that triggered a five-year economic downturn across Spain has also made Catalonia one of the most indebted regions in the country, adding to the pressure for secession over the past two years.
On September 11, Catalonia's national day, hundreds of thousands massed in a vast human chain stretching across the region to demand independence.
That day commemorates the conquest of Barcelona by Spanish king Philip V's forces in 1714, which many Catalans say marked the end of centuries of autonomy.
Leaders in Catalonia vowed on Wednesday to press ahead with their independence campaign despite a ruling from Spanish judges who said the region had no right to call a referendum on secession.
Campaigners in the heavily indebted region had planned to organise a vote on independence shortly after a similar referendum in Scotland later this year, but Spain’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday ruled that such a move would be illegal.
“The political process continues,” Catalonia’s President Artur Mas told the regional parliament. “Each hurdle we encounter on this road, we will find a way around.”
The court ruled that a declaration of sovereignty last year by Catalan lawmakers was illegal under the 1978 constitution, which also forbids them from unilaterally calling a referendum.
The national government has vehemently opposed Catalonia’s steps towards independence, calling for unity as Spain crawls out of its economic crisis.
Catalans say they should have same right to vote on independence as the Scots, who are due to hold a referendum in September — a move authorised by the British government.
Spain’s conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy insisted last month that in Spain such a referendum “can’t take place”.
A senior ruling party leader, Carlos Floriano, said on Wednesday the court’s judgement “made it very clear that national sovereignty lies with the Spanish people” as a whole.
He called on Mas’s CiU coalition to “recover the common sense required by all leaders and abandon this path”.
Both Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party and the main opposition Socialist party oppose the referendum.
The national parliament, controlled by the Popular Party, is to debate the issue on April 8.
Mas said he would use that occasion to formally ask Spanish lawmakers to grant the Catalan parliament the right to call a referendum.
– Rocky road to referendum –
The Catalan and national press broadly agreed that the court ruling had strengthened the central government’s hand.
“The Constitutional Court’s ruling is clear and leaves no room for partisan interpretations,” wrote centre-right national daily El Mundo in an editorial.
Analysts said a non-binding vote designed to show the region’s desire for independence and constitutional change might still be legal, but was unlikely given the national government’s opposition.
“The ruling opens the door to political dialogue but gives no scope for a consultation to be viable,” said Xavier Arbos, an expert in constitutional law at Barcelona University.
“The Constitutional Court allows the possibility to continue debating this issue, without that being interpreted as giving the right to self-determination,” Arbos told AFP.
Proud of their distinct language and culture, many in Catalonia say they feel short-changed by the central government.
As Spain’s main economic engine, Catalonia’s 7.5 million citizens resent the redistribution of their taxes to other regions.
The real estate crash that triggered a five-year economic downturn across Spain has also made Catalonia one of the most indebted regions in the country, adding to the pressure for secession over the past two years.
On September 11, Catalonia’s national day, hundreds of thousands massed in a vast human chain stretching across the region to demand independence.
That day commemorates the conquest of Barcelona by Spanish king Philip V’s forces in 1714, which many Catalans say marked the end of centuries of autonomy.
