The Spanish and Catalonian governments are in opposition today after the president of Catalonia said Thursday he will hold an independence referendum next year. Spain announced it would block the vote because it goes against the constitution, Reuters reported.
"The poll will not be held," Spanish Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon said, BBC News reported.
The president of Catalonia's regional government, Artur Mas, said the referendum will be held on Nov., 9 2014. Mas said the referendum poses two questions: "Do you want Catalonia to be a state?" and "Do you want that state to be independent?" Reuters reported.
Mas did not specify the difference between a state and independent state. But the questions seem to leave room for Catalonian nationalists that want to be a state, yet still be a part of Spain, the Associated Press reported.
Spain's major political parties, the prime minister's Popular Party and the Socialist party, both vowed to reject the referendum. According to Spain's 1978 constitution, only Madrid's central government can call a referendum, the AP reported. The EU and NATO also said Catalonia would not be included if they secede from Spain, the BBC reported.
Mas once said he will turn the 2016 regional elections into a vote on independence if Spain stops a referendum, the BBC reported. Spain's economic crisis has increased Catalonia's desire for independence. Independence will allow Catalonia to make its own national financial decisions, Reuters reported.
Spain has 17 regions. Catalonia is one of the most advanced, with its own language apart from Spanish and comprising close to a fifth of Spain's economy. Spain's Basque region previously tried and failed in its attempt to hold an independence referendum, the Associated Press reported.
Surveys show that half of Catalonia's 7.5 million population would vote yes for independence in the referendum.
