MADRID (Sputnik) – The Spanish government has filed a suit in the country’s Constitutional Court in regard to the illegitimacy of a resolution passed by the regional government of Catalonia to secede from the country, Spanish television reported Wednesday.
On November 9, the Parliament of Catalonia passed a resolution to begin the process of seceding from Spain.
The lawsuit has already been submitted by Spain’s Attorney General Marta Silva de Lapuerta to the Constitutional Court’s Public Defender's Office. The 21 Catalan politicians affiliated with the adoption of the resolution will be officially informed about the lawsuit.
The process of gaining independence from Spain consists of forming a government and other state structures, as well as drawing up a constitution. Once a new constitution is accepted, Catalonia will declare its independence. According to supporters of Catalonia’s secession from Spain, the process should take approximately 18 months.
Catalonia has long sought independence from Spain, accusing Madrid of constraining its economic and cultural autonomy. Madrid has repeatedly said that Catalonia’s separation from Spain is against the country’s Constitution.