Catalonia's parliament has passed a law paving the way for an Oct 01,2017 Referendum on whether to declare independence from Spain - a vote fiercely opposed by the central government in Madrid.
The so-called "referendum bill" was adopted on Wednesday Sep 06,2017 by the regional parliament, which is controlled by pro-independence parties, with 72 votes in favour and 11 abstentions.
Politicians who oppose independence for the wealthy northeastern region of Spain abandoned the chamber before the vote.
After the law was passed, separatist lawmakers sang the region's anthem, "Els Segadors", which recalls a 1640 revolt in the region against the Spanish monarchy.
Xavier Garcia Albiol, the head of the Catalan branch of the conservative Popular Party, accused the separatist politicians of wanting to cause Spain's "biggest institutional crisis" since a failed coup attempt in 1981, when armed civil guards took over parliament.
Catalonia, a region of 7.5 million people with its own language and culture, accounts for about 20 percent of Spain's economic output, and has significant powers over matters such as education, healthcare and welfare.
Note
Under the Spanish constitution, referendums on sovereignty must be held nationally, not regionally.
According to Article 155, Madrid has the power to intervene directly in the running of Catalonia's regional government, forcing it to drop the vote
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