‘Junts Pel Sí’ and CUP hand over an agreed declaration on starting the independence process

The two main pro-independence forces represented in the Catalan Parliament, cross-party list ‘Junts Pel Sí’ and radical left CUP, handed over an agreed declaration on the 26 October 2015 which established the beginning of Catalonia’s independence process. The document warned that 'the process of democratic disconnection won’t be subject to Spanish institutions’ decisions, particularly those from the Spanish Constitutional Court, which is regarded as discredited and without competences'.

The plan was to secure the agreement of the Catalan parliament to the process. However, the process was temporarily suspended on the 28 October 2015 for procedural reasons.

Later on in the same week Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy met with centre-right Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera, as well as Podemos chief Pablo Iglesias, and other opposition politicians to discuss the increasing constitutional crisis involving Spain and Catalonia. Mr Rajoy said on the 30 October 2015 that Spain's main parties would work together to defend national unity against the independence drive.

Onn the 5 November 2015 the Spanish Constitutional Court gave the green light for the Catalan Parliament to vote on the pro-independence proposal. This was due to take place on the 9 November 2015.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Court summons Catalan president over 2014 illegal independence vote http://www.europeansources.info/record/court-summons-catalan-president-over-2014-illegal-independence-vote/

ESO: Background information: Catalonian parliamentary election, 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/catalonian-parliamentary-election-2015/

CNA, 28.10.15: Proposal to start building a new Catalan State on standby http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/proposal-to-start-building-a-new-catalan-state-on-standby

El País, 30.10.15: PM pledges to study Ciudadanos’ plan to deal with Catalan challenge http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/10/30/inenglish/1446222306_342314.html

El País, 27.10.15: Catalan secessionist parties declare beginning of independence process http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/10/27/inenglish/1445940124_546366.html

The Local.es, 31.10.15: UN chief insists Catalonia has no right to claim self-determination http://www.thelocal.es/20151031/un-chief-ban-ki-moon-catalonia-has-no-right-to-claim-self-determination

The Local.es, 31.10.15: Spain's main parties strike 'unity' pact against Catalonia separatists http://www.thelocal.es/20151031/spains-main-parties-strike-unity-pact-against-catalonia-separatists

The Local.es, 30.10.15: Ciudadanos proposes pact with PM to combat Catalan separatist drive http://www.thelocal.es/20151030/spanish-opposition-proposes-pact-with-pm-to-combat-catalan-separatism

El País, 06.11.15: Spanish PM agrees to reform Constitution if he wins re-election http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/11/06/inenglish/1446801529_902711.html

Catalan News Agency, 05.11.15: Spanish Constitutional Court gives the green light to vote on pro-independence proposal http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/spanish-constitutional-court-gives-the-green-light-to-vote-on-pro-independence-proposal

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