MADRID (Sputnik) — Catalonia will leave the eurozone if it votes to secede from Spain, chairman of the Spanish Central Bank Luis Maria Linde said Monday.
“An exit from the European Union automatically leads to exit from the euro. This is an automated procedure,” Linde said.
“Catalonia’s separation will automatically result in being cut off from the European Central Bank (ECB) funding,” he continued.
According to Linde, Catalonian independence will lead to an uncertainty and tension in the financial sector not only in the region, but also in Spain as a whole. Subsequent restrictions on cash withdrawals and forced bank holidays could be announced.
On September 27, Catalonia will hold a "plebiscitary" parliamentary election. If independence supporters get a majority of seats, the election will become a de-facto vote on Catalonia's independence.