Spain’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday unanimously accepted an appeal filed by the Spanish government against a new independence initiative passed by the Catalan parliament.
The court’s admission means the initiative will be suspended during the review period.
Catalan politicians approved the popular initiative, which proposes the region declare independence from Spain, earlier this year. But despite Madrid’s willingness to pass a controversial amnesty bill for members of the separatist movement, Justice Minister Felix Bolanos has emphasised that the government does not support Catalonia holding a referendum or secession from Spain.
During a speech to the Spanish parliament on Monday, Catalan President Pere Aragonés warned that an independence referendum was “inevitable”. He has recently claimed he has found a way to hold a referendum that will comply with the constitution, despite government opposition.
Spain’s minority coalition government is currently relying on the support of Catalan separatists to pass any new laws.
Negotiations are ongoing, but the government’s move to block a new independence initiative has been heavily criticised. Patricia Plaja, the spokesperson of the Catalan government, said:
“To us, it seems like the government hasn’t learned anything … trying to restrict and limit parliamentary debate will never be a solution.”
She accused the Socialists of “overreacting against independence” for their own “electoral interest.”
