14.10.2014 - 10:34
The independence consultation vote will be carried out in Catalonia on November 9 but in different parameters than the ones fixed on December 2013. Catalan president Artur Mas explain it in a press conference this morning: ‘Vote will not happen according to Law of Consultations and the decree I signed, obviously because the Spanish Government has suspended both’. Mas said an alternative vote with a different legal framework will be carried out on the same date: ‘We’re moving forward, not as united, but forward. Commitment means Catalan Government will hold the vote on that date, with ballot boxes and ballots. I would have preferred maximum consensus but it is now not possible’.
Mas said neither the original proposal nor what we have now proposed can be considered definitive. He stated the only definitive solution is through elections with unitary list, which the international community would recognize: ‘This option is still at our disposal and it is the most feared option by the Spanish government’.
‘Although consensus is broken, I know for sure the real adversary is the Spanish state, which does everything it can to keep Catalan people from voting’ he stressed out. ‘We now need people’s support more than ever, we are a bit more alone’.
No consensus on holding the 9th of November vote as designed and nor on having early elections as an alternative
Parties supporting the self-determination vote scheduled for the 9th of November met on Monday in Barcelona to discuss whether to carry on the consultation vote as it is currently planned or to launch instead an alternative way in order to allow Catalans to have their say on their collective future, in view of the total opposition from the Spanish authorities to the current self-determination process. The meeting ended without concensus.
The left-wing Catalan independence party ERC, which is Catalan president main ally, announced yesterday evening through a press release that does not back the alternative consultation vote Mas proposed. ERC states that, if Catalans cannot hold a self-determination consultation vote, the next step should be early elections and a unilateral declaration of independence. However, they have also added that they will help the Catalan Government to ensure that Catalans can vote.
The Catalan green socialist and post-communist coalition ICV-EUiA stated that they will wait to know Mas’ proposal in order to decide their stance.
The alternative left and radical independence party CUP stressed that they will work to keep the consultation vote on the 9th of November and have organised an assembly this very same night to decide what to do next.
More information on this issue:
Catalan leaders: Consultation vote will proceed (04.10.2014)
International media chides president Rajoy (03.10.2014)
Thousands protest against Constitutional Court independence consultation suspension (30.09.2014)
Constitutional Court temporarily suspends Catalonia’s self-determination consultation (29.09.2014)
