| Author (Corporate) | BBC |
|---|---|
| Series Title | BBC News |
| Series Details | 20.09.17 |
| Publication Date | 20/09/2017 |
| Content Type | News |
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Background and further information: Throughout September 2017, the Catalan Government and pro-independence supporters pressed ahead with plans to hold an independence referendum on 1 October 2017, while the central government in Madrid sought to prevent the vote from taking place. Spainish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy argued the state had been forced to act. Following an emergency cabinet meeting, Catalan President Carles Puidgemont accused the central government in Madrid of 'de facto' suspending the region's autonomy and imposing a state of emergency. In a separate move, Spain's finance minister announced the government was ready to take control of a large part of Catalonia's public finances. These events intensified the concerns for instability in the country as the central government attempted to prevent the referendum - deemed illegal - from taking place. The bill for Catalonia's transition to independence was presented by the regional government on 28 August 2017. According to the plan, the bill would come into effect if a majority voted for secession from Spain in the referendum. The central government quickly declared the illegality of the vote. Tensions rose between the Spanish and Catalan authorities during September 2017 as the time for the planned Catalan independence referendum on the 1 October 2017 approached. Spain's Guardia Civil police detained a number of senior Catalan officials on 20 September 2017 and raided regional government ministries involved in organising the referendum. On the 21 September 2017 the Spanish Constitutional Court issued fines for disobeying the law against 24 Catalan officials, including electoral board members and electoral administrative heads. In addition, the Spanish government took over Catalonia’s public finances on the 21 September 2017, primarily in order to prevent spending on the planned referendum. Public demonstrations took place in Barcelona and other Catalan cities against the Spanish government moves. On the 22 September 2017 the Spanish Ministry of the Interior announced that it was sending National Police and Civil Guard reinforcements to Catalonia 'to help the Catalan police maintain order'. On the 23 September 2017 the Ministry said it would coordinate all police forces in Catalonia in operations related to stopping the banned referendum. The Catalan police chief said it did not accept being ruled from Madrid. Spanish news sources suggested that both the governing Popular Party and the opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) were willing to suggest talks with pro-independence parties in Catalonia on evolution of the regional autonomy model as long as the referendum was called off. Spain's Attorney General Jose Manuel Maza said on the 25 September 2017 that Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont could be charged with civil disobedience, abuse of office and misuse of public funds for organising and holding the referendum. |
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| Source Link | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41331152 |
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| Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations |
| Countries / Regions | Spain |
