- Title: Catalan parliament votes yes to holding a referendum next September
- Date: 6th October 2016
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (OCTOBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF CATALAN PARLIAMENT SPANISH AND CATALAN FLAGS EXTERIOR OF CATALAN PARLIAMENT BARCELONA RESIDENT JAUME TERUEL TALKING WITH FRIENDS (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) BARCELONA RESIDENT JAUME TERUE, SAYING: "The independence movement is not the will of one person. It comes from the people and it will continue like that. It is clear that we need people to push so the movement progresses and doesn't lose steam. Every September 11th people go to the street and they will keep doing it until the referendum takes place. They (the people) will accept the decision of the referendum." BARCELONA RESIDENT ALFRED FERRER TALKING WITH FRIEND (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) BARCELONA RESIDENT ALFRED FERRER, SAYING: "When we voted on the constitution no one told us that the constitutional court would have power over our autonomous territory. Then Spanish regions changed to autonomous communities and we were included in a central, Borbonic (Last name of the Spanish royal house), monarchic Spain. We are not allowed to be autonomous at all, they get involved in every decision and they make laws to void our laws." VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF CATALAN PARLIAMENT
- Embargoed: 21st October 2016 21:24
- Keywords: Catalonia Catalonia parliament Carles Puigdemont Independence referendum Spain
- Location: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- City: BARCELONA, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00252VB5MV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Catalonia's parliament voted in favour on Thursday (October 6) of pursuing a referendum on independence next September amid mounting tensions with Spain's central government over whether the northeastern region can legally break away.
The bill passed with 72 votes in favour, zero votes against and 11 abstentions.
The referendum poses a new headache for Spain's acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, whose conservative People's Party (PP) repeatedly has refused to consider allowing one in Catalonia, which is home to about a sixth of the population.
Rajoy's stand-off with the Catalan separatists has sharpened at a time when national politics have ground to a halt after two inconclusive national elections over the last 10 months failed to produce a majority to form a central government.
In August, Spain's central administration asked the Constitutional Court to annul a resolution by Catalonia's parliament in July to pursue independence. The court on Thursday raised the possibility of bringing criminal charges against the Catalan parliament's speaker for allowing the vote.
Catalonia's regional president, Carles Puigdemont, said last week that he was open to negotiating the terms of a legally binding referendum but he would hold it with or without Spain's blessing.
Some 48 percent of Catalans supported secession in a poll in July, although that it is below its peak from a few years ago.
One Barcelona resident who supports independence for Catalonia said the movement would continue.
"The independence movement is not the will of one person. It comes from the people and it will continue like that. It is clear that we need people to push so the movement progresses and doesn't lose steam. Every September 11th people go to the street and they will keep doing it until the referendum takes place. They will accept the decision of the referendum," Jaume Teruel said, referring to Catalonia's national day which takes place on September 11th.
Puigdemont comfortably won a parliamentary confidence vote last Thursday (September 29) in a show of unity that he hoped would spur further support for his independence agenda, which aims to establish basic laws and a state structure by next September. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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