Politics
21:44, 05-Oct-2017
Spain's court orders Catalan independence session suspended
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Spain's Constitutional Court on Thursday ordered the suspension of a planned session in Catalonia's parliament at which local leaders have called for the region to declare independence.
Judges "ordered the suspension of the plenary that has been called for Monday in the (Catalan) parliament" while it hears an appeal lodged against it, a spokeswoman said, as the court confirmed the ruling in a written statement.
The ruling followed a legal challenge by the Catalan Socialist Party, which opposes secession, according to El Pais newspaper.
Protesters carry signs and an imitation ballot box during a demonstration in favor of a general strike in the Catalan town of Vic, Spain, on October 2, 2017. /Reuters Photo
Protesters carry signs and an imitation ballot box during a demonstration in favor of a general strike in the Catalan town of Vic, Spain, on October 2, 2017. /Reuters Photo
Catalan leaders were preparing to declare independence from Spain after a referendum marred with violence, defying a warning from the country's king that national stability was in peril.
As the European Union urged dialogue to ease the standoff between Catalan authorities and Madrid, a regional government source said the independence declaration could be as early as Monday.
The tone of the crisis sharpened with Catalonia's president denouncing the king's intervention and Spain's government rejecting any possible talks.
"The government will not negotiate over anything illegal and will not accept blackmail," said a statement from Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's office.
"Negotiation in democracy only has one way, the way of the law."
The dispute is Spain's worst political crisis in decades.
Source(s): AFP
,Reuters