Court knocks back Catalan independence vote

The proposed referendum on independence in Catalonia has been suspended by Spain’s Constitutional Court.

The suspension comes as a result of a request by Prime Minister Rajoy’s conservative government for the court to declare the referendum illegal.

The court said it would consider the request, a process which could take as long as five months.

The proposed vote was due to take place on November 9. In light of the court’s decision, the referendum is likely to be deemed illegal should it proceed.

Mr Rajoy has long set out his opposition to any independence referendum. This week he said that the question affects all the people of Spain and so it could not be left to just one region to vote. This, he said, was “profoundly anti-democratic”.

Catalonia’s nationalists have urged the Spanish government to take inspiration from David Cameron’s decision to recognise the Scottish referendum, but it does not seem so minded.

It remains to be seen if the Catalans will defy Madrid and go ahead with the vote. Polls indicate “yes” and “no” votes are garnering about 50% each.

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