Catalonia's parliament votes to stage referendum on independence

Catalonia's regional parliament voted to stage a referendum on self-determination with a view to possibly seceding from Spain on Thursday, but the national government warned it will have it stopped by the country's top court.

The regional parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the referendum, by 81 votes to 21.

The Vice President of the Catalan Parliament Lluis Corominas i Diaz, declared the region should be allowed to decide its own future. "The Catalan Parliament indicates that the Catalan citizenship should be able to decided freely and democratically its collective future and asks the (autonomous) government to summon a referendum as a priority during the next legislative term."

The referendum will be held after regional elections on the 25th of November 2012. Oriol Jonquera, who is a member of the Republican Left of Catalonia Party (ERC), said the move was part of the democratic tradition of Europe of the 20th century.

"Today the Catalan Parliament has voted that the Catalan people have the right to decide its future. And that they have the right to decide it democratically," said Jonquera. "And the Catalan citizens want to join this democratic normalcy that reigns in Europe."

Alicia Sanchez Camacho, who is a member of the Popular Party (PP) in Catalonia, also welcomed the news but urged caution. "It has been very sad for some representatives of the citizens of Catalonia to have a government like this one and to see approved a resolution asking for a referendum that is outside the law," said Camacho. "Any proposal is legitimate and legal as long as it respects the law. But not outside the law because this could lead Catalonia and the Catalans to a very preoccupying path. "

Early vote

Catalan President Artur Mas called early elections and proposed the referendum after Spain recently rejected a demand to grant the region special fiscal powers.

Catalonia is Spain's most economically powerful region, but also the recession-stricken country's most indebted. Mas this month led a massive pro-independence rally in Barcelona that was seen as a show of strength and a warning to Madrid.

He also attended Thursday's vote and was seen clapping when the vote for referendum was passed. As he exited, he was cheered on by pro-independence activists standing outside the regional parliament building.

"We need to forge a federation among other European states. But not within a state (referring to Spain)- that is not good for us from any standpoint. Economic, socially, culturally. Nothing at all," said Marc Sangles, a pro-independence activist.

However, not all have welcomed the news. Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria criticised the referendum as unconstitutional and has warned it will be halted.