Catalan deputy premier suggests independence vote could be delayed

El País, and other news sources, reported in August 2014 that the Catalan regional deputy premier, Joana Ortega, had suggested that the proposed 9 November 2014 vote on independence for Catalonia might be postponed if the central government of Spain appealed it to the Constitutional Court. This followed other comments made by members of the centre-right pro-Catalan state coalition CiU.

Other political parties and interests supporting the self-determination vote protested at these comments.

Subsequently it was announced that a summit would be held in September 2014 attended by all pro-independence parties, and that by 24 September 2014 the date of the poll would be formally confirmed as 9 November 2014.

Spanish and Catalan sources reported in September 2014 that Popular Party (PP) officials had launched a initiative with the message that sovereignty for Catalonia would be bad for the region and bad for Spain.

In order to fight the independence drive, PP Secretary General María Dolores de Cospedal proposed a coalition among all the parties that were working to keep Catalonia within Spain.

• Primary Source

The Local.es, 12.08.14: Catalonia opens door to independence vote delay http://www.thelocal.es/20140812/catalan-vp-opens-door-to-referendum-delay

ESO: Background information: Catalan self-determination referendum http://www.europeansources.info/record/catalan-self-determination-referendum/

ESO: Background information: Rajoy will meet with the new Socialist leader two days before talking to the Catalan President http://www.europeansources.info/record/rajoy-will-meet-with-the-new-socialist-leader-two-days-before-talking-to-the-catalan-president/

Catalan News Agency, 12.08.14: Self-determination forces clash over possibility to postpone 9th November vote if Spain blocks it http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/self-determination-forces-clash-over-possibility-to-postpone-9th-november-vote-if-spain-blocks-it

El País, 15.08.14: Catalan government insists timetable for independence vote remains unchanged http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/08/15/inenglish/1408118499_527119.html

Catalan News Agency, 13.08.14: Catalan President: the only plan is to vote on November 9 and partisan fights have to be kept aside http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/catalan-president-the-only-plan-is-to-vote-on-november-9-and-partisan-fights-have-to-be-kept-aside

El País, 21.08.14: Catalan nationalist parties make show of unity in favor of November 9 referendum http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/08/21/inenglish/1408616231_639809.html

Catalan News Agency, 20.08.14: Parties supporting self-determination vote collectively reaffirm their will to vote on November 9 http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/parties-supporting-self-determination-vote-collectively-reaffirm-their-will-to-vote-on-november-9

Catalan News Agency, 05.09.14: The People's Party offer to form a grand coalition against Catalonia's independence is only accepted by UPyD http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/the-people-s-party-offer-to-form-a-grand-coalition-against-catalonia-s-independence-is-only-accepted-by-upyd

El País, 05.09.14: PP chief proposes coalition to combat Catalan independence drive http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/09/05/inenglish/1409926258_505620.html

---