Madrid Takes Catalan Parliament Resolution on Secession to Constitutional Court

MADRID (Sputnik) — The Spanish Government filed a lawsuit to the Constitutional Court in connection with the recent resolution adopted by the Parliament of Catalonia to continue the process of secession from Madrid, acting Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Friday.

On Wednesday, the Catalan parliament supported the conclusions of a parliamentary commission created to study the process of secession. The conclusions included the points of secession's terms and a referendum on a new regional constitution. Later that day, de Santamaria announced that the Spanish government will file a lawsuit to the constitutional court. Earlier on Friday, the Spanish government's meeting took place in Madrid and has reached a decision to proceed with the lawsuit to the Constitutional Court, agreeing on the suit's text.

"We demand to invalidate the [Catalan Parliament] resolution from July 27, since it is contrary to a previous decision of the Constitutional Court. We demand its immediate suspension," de Santamaria told reporters after the government's meeting.

Catalonia has long sought independence from Spain, but the Spanish government has repeatedly declined the region’s quest for independence, saying it would violate the country’s constitution.

On November 9, the Parliament of Catalonia passed a resolution to begin the process of seceding from Spain. The initiative was backed by 72 votes in the 135-seat parliament.