Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Catalonia defies Spain by calling secession vote
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_SPAIN_CATALONIA_INDEPENDENCE?SITE=VANOV&SECTION=BUSINESS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULTCatalonia defies Spain by calling secession vote
By JOSEPH WILSON and CIARAN GILES
Associated Press
Sep 27, 5:52 AM EDT
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- The president of Spain's powerful northeastern region of Catalonia on Saturday formally called an independence referendum, the latest secession push in Europe and one of the most serious challenges to the Spanish state of recent years.
The Spanish government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy insists the referendum, planned for Nov. 9, is illegal and won't take place.
Catalan leader Artur Mas signed the decree to call the referendum in a solemn ceremony in the regional government headquarters in Barcelona, flanked by most of the region's political leaders who support the vote.
"Like all the nations of the world, Catalonia has the right to decide its political future," said Mas.
