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Spain premier says Madrid to use 'all means' to block Catalan independence bid

Iran Press TV

Tue Oct 27, 2015 4:51PM

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has pledged that the government in Madrid will make use of all means possible to prevent an independence bid by Catalonia.

Rajoy made the remarks in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, hours after two major parties in Catalonia's regional parliament presented a bill for the chamber to announce the beginning of a process to form an independent Catalan state.

"The state will not hesitate to use all the political and legal means afforded by the law and the constitution to defend Spain's sovereignty," Rajoy said.

He also criticized the submission of the bill to Catalonia's legislature as an "act of provocation," saying that it was "contrary to the constitution, the law, the feelings of the majority of Catalans and the democratic will of Spaniards."

The Spanish prime minister warned those behind Catalonia's independence bid that they "will not achieve" their goal.

The motion was put forward by the 'Together for Yes' pro-independence alliance along with the leftist CUP party, which won 72 and 10 seats respectively in the 135-seat Catalan parliament in the September 27 elections.

It calls on the Catalan legislature to pass laws within 30 days that will pave the way for a separate constitution, treasury and social security system.

Catalans' independence drive has gained momentum in recent years. A series of demonstrations have been held to support the self-determination right for Catalonia and demand an end to the redistribution of the region's taxes to other areas of the country.

In November 2014, the Catalan president staged a symbolic independence referendum after the government in Madrid blocked his bid to hold an official referendum. Nearly 80 percent of the 2.2 million people who took part in the vote backed secession, though the turnout was slightly more than 40 percent.

Many Catalans believe their economy would be more prosperous on its own, complaining that a high portion of their taxes goes to the central government in Madrid.