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Spanish State Attorney presents appeal against Catalan independence procedure

Xinhua, November 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Spanish State Attorney on Wednesday presented an appeal to the Spanish Constitutional Court against the so-called process of independence which was approved on Monday by the Catalan regional assembly by 72 votes to 63.

The appeal, which is based on the fact the Spanish government believes the Catalan process to be unconstitutional, was presented after being ratified by the Spanish State Council on Tuesday and an emergency meeting of the cabinet of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, which was held on Wednesday morning.

Tuesday had seen Rajoy meet with King Felipe VI of Spain and with Pedro Sanchez, the leader of the Socialist Party (PSOE), to explain the process.

Once the Constitutional Court officially accepts the appeal the Catalan assembly will be obliged to detain the process towards the independence of the region in the northeast of Spain until the Court publishes its findings in around six months.

However, this is unlikely to happen as in passing the motion to instigate moves towards independence the Catalan assembly included a clause saying it would take no notice of Spanish institutions such as the Constitutional Court and press on with the creation of Catalan institutions.

Should this happen it would open the door for the Spanish government and legal institutions to take further measures against those it sees as responsible, with the President of the Catalan assembly Carme Forcadell and pro-independence leaders, such as Artur Mas, likely to face changes of disobedience and even of sedition, offenses which carry a maximum prison sentence of 15 years in jail and being forbidden from taking public office for the same period.

The Spanish Constitution also gives the central government powers to suspend the powers of the Catalan assembly. Endit