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Spanish PM refuses Catalan proposal to start process towards independence

Xinhua, October 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy refused on Tuesday the deal agreed by two political parties of the Catalan parliament to start a process towards the independence of the region.

Pro-independence parties Junts pel Si and CUP agreed to begin a process towards "an independent Catalan state structured as a republic" as according to them after the elections of Sept. 27 the process has the support needed.

Rajoy refused the deal and said that the proposal was contrary to the Spanish constitution.

"The government guarantees and will guarantee they will not meet any of their goals," he said, adding that if the proposal is passed by the Catalonian parliament it will not have any impact.

Rajoy assured that those who want to separate and split Catalonia from Spain should know they will not meet that goal "because they are going to do it against the majority of Catalans and Spaniards".

Regional elections in Catalonia were held last Sept. 27. Pro-independence political parties won parliamentary elections having a majority of seats but not of votes.

The President-in-Office of the regional government of Catalonia, Artur Mas, called for early elections last August billing them as a plebiscite on independence from Spain. However, Rajoy said in July that Catalonia would not be granted independence no matter what the result of the elections.

The Spanish government has always refused to hold a poll on Catalonia's independence from Spain as according to them, it breaches Spain's constitution. Endit