Madrid, Sep 29 (IANS/EFE) The Spanish government filed an appeal before the country's Constitutional Court Monday after Catalonia's regional president decreed that a referendum be held Nov 9 to decide if the wealthy northeastern region should declare its independence from Spain.
"Neither the object nor the proceedings of the vote are compatible with the Spanish constitution," Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced, following an extraordinary cabinet meeting in Madrid focused on the details of the appeal.
The prime minister described as "profoundly undemocratic" the referendum that was authorised by a decree signed by the Catalan President, Artur Mas, Saturday.
"There is nothing, no one, and no power that can break the principle of sole sovereignty nor deprive the Spaniards of the right to decide the nature of their country," said Rajoy.
The prime minister offered "dialogue within the law" to the separatist-minded Catalan president and noted: "There is still time to right the ship."
The referendum on self-determination, he said, was going to be "against the law, ignoring democracy, dividing the Catalans, and pushing them away from Europe and the rest of Spain".
Rajoy insisted that the referendum would not be held, adding that the worst aspect to this business was that Mas knew that from the start.
The council of ministers agreed that holding the referendum would be a violation of the constitution, as it gave citizens of Catalonia the exclusive right to decide on the unity of the Spanish nation, a question that should be considered by all Spaniards.
--IANS/EFE
ab/vm
