Catalan parliament defies Spain

The declaration, which pro-independence parties in the northeastern region hope will lead to Catalonia seceding within 18 months, was backed by a majority in the regional parliament.

The pro-independence parties garnered a majority of seats in the Catalan regional elections in September.

Although Catalan branches of Spain’s ruling conservative Popular Party and the Socialist and the Citizens opposition parties filed appeals to halt the vote, Spain’s Constitutional Court ruled Thursday that it could go ahead.

“I’ve said it continuously and I reiterate it today – the government will not allow this to continue”. Spanish Premier Mariano Rajoy has announced he will immediately challenge the motion approved Monday by appealing to the Constitutional Court in Madrid. “The people’s push for independence waned when Madid ruled that “…there is no legal basis for recognising Catalonia as a nation within Spain”. Not only is it the economic powerhouse, Catalonia is a main tourist hub for the country with that regional capital, Barcelona.

The parliament has until January 9 to form a government or new elections must be called.

Rajoy has said, “The state may use any available judicial and political mechanism contained in the constitution and in the laws to defend the sovereignty of the Spanish people and of the general interest of Spain”. Pro-secession lawmakers from the “Together for Yes” alliance and the left-wing Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) brought forth the proposal.

“Everything is unconstitutional, illegal and undemocratic, because they lie when they say the majority of Catalans back a decoupling”, said Ciudadanos chief Albert Rivera.

The motion gives the Catalan parliament 30 days to work on a new legislation, with the end result meant to be a fully independent republic. The declaration called for immediate “disobedience” to Spain’s “delegitimized” Constitutional Court and said Catalonia should not be bound by future Spanish laws or institutions.

Catalonia, with 7.5 million residents, has an economy roughly the size of Portugal’s, making up one-fifth of Spain’s gross domestic product.

Catalonia is Spain’s wealthiest region, which produces 20 percent of national GDP.

“The content of the resolution will be applied regardless of what the Constitutional Court says”. But many there believe they pay too much in taxes and get too little government investment in return, reports The Christian Science Monitor.