Spanish Constitutional Court suspends law for expanding Catalonia’s Tax Agency

Spain’s Constitutional Court (TC) suspended on the 14 September 2015 for at least five months the reform of the law that would regulate Catalonia’s Tax Agency. The Catalan reform stipulated that all those civil servants who wanted to be eligible for a position in the body would need to have permanent positions in Catalonia.

The TC accepted an appeal by the Spanish government which claimed that the proposal was against the right of all Spanish citizens to access the entity under the same conditions.

Catalan Government spokeswoman, Neus Munté, assured that the suspension wouldl be appealed and described the TC’s decision as 'another example of asphyxia and re-centralisation'. Munté added that despite the obstacles the Catalan Tax Agency 'won’t be stopped'.

The proposal to establish a regional tax agency was seen as constituting a key step in the bid to create an independent Catalonia.

• Primary Source

El País, 14.09.15: Constitutional Court temporarily halts plans for a Catalan tax agency http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/09/14/inenglish/1442247169_344882.html

ESO: Background information: Massive turnout at Catalan independence demonstration http://www.europeansources.info/record/massive-turnout-at-catalan-independence-demonstration/

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