Spain's top court orders halt to Catalan independence process

[MikeWB]

Spanish civil war coming?


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/11989803/Spains-top-court-orders-halt-to-Catalan-independence-process.html

Madrid government appeals to Constitutional Court to stop "destruction" of Spanish nation, as regional police are ordered to report instances of sedition and rebellion

Marta Silva, lawyer from the Spanish Prosecutor Office, has documents stamped by a registry worker after she presents the government's appeal with the Constitutional Court
Spain's top court has dealt a blow to Catalonia's push for independence by ordering the region's leaders to halt an 18-month process of forming a breakaway state, following an angry appeal from Madrid against the "destruction" of the Spanish nation.

Spanish Constitutional Court building is seen in Madrid, SpainSpanish Constitutional Court building is seen in Madrid, Spain  Photo: REUTERS/Juan Medina

Under controversial new powers recently granted to the Constitutional Court, Catalan officials such as its defiant pro-independence president, Artur Mas, could be removed from office if they disobey the judges' decision. In a potential escalation of the tense standoff between Madrid and Barcelona, Mr Rajoy said he had requested that Mr Mas and 20 other senior Catalan officials should be personally informed of the court freeze on fresh independence measures.

It also emerged that the chief public prosecutor in Spain's High Court has instructed Catalonia's police force to report instances of sedition and rebellion against authority, offences which carry hefty jail sentences of between 10 and 30 years' imprisonment.

Speaking on Wednesday after an extraordinary cabinet meeting on the government's appeal, Mr Rajoy attacked Catalan leaders who wish to "end democracy and the rule of law" by ignoring constitutional limits. "This is something we cannot allow. I will not allow it," Spain's conservative leader continued, stressing that the appeal was being presented to protect the rights of Spaniards to decide their destiny as a nation.

"Democracy is being undermined; everything is being undermined," he said. "They are playing with feelings and rights of Spaniards and the love they feel for a country which some people want to destroy".

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy   Photo: AFP

Mr Rajoy also defended his refusal to bend on the Catalan issue during his four years as prime minister - a stance which has drawn considerable criticism. He said he had been right to refuse to negotiate a new financing deal for the region as it would have meant less distribution of money from the wealthy northeastern region to poorer parts of Spain, and that he had to stand up to the Catalan government's defiance of existing laws, such as last year's attempt to hold a referendum on independence.

But Pedro Sánchez, the leader if Spain's main opposition Socialist Party, accused Mr Rajoy of contributing to the impasse through "inaction and immobility".

Pablo Iglesias, leader of the Left-wing Podemos, said the government's appeal was "cowardly" and promised a binding referendum in Catalonia if he became prime minister after Spain's December 20 general elections.