Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says he will ask Spain’s constitutional court to revoke a referendum law passed on Wednesday by the Catalan parliament that sets the stage for an October 1 vote on splitting from Spain.<br /><br />Rajoy told a press conference that the law, passed by a majority of Catalan lawmakers, was unconstitutional.<br /><br />Spain’s state prosecutors’ office said on Thursday it would be present criminal charges against leading members of the Catalan parliament for allowing Wednesday’s parliamentary vote to go ahead.<br /><br />#BREAKING Spain PM Rajoy brands Catalan independence vote ‘intolerable act of disobedience’— AFP news agency (@AFP) 7 septembre 2017<br /><br /><br />What happened on Wednesday?<br /><br />Catalonia’s parliament voted on Wednesday to hold an independence referendum on October 1.<br /><br />The winners, led by regional head Carles Puigdemont, sang the Catalan national anthem once the votes were counted.<br /><br />After 12 hours of what was often chaotic debate in the Barcelona parliament, a majority voted for the referendum and the legal framework to set up a new state.<br /><br />Catalonia to hold independence vote despite anger in Madrid https://t.co/MKIlYQ4jFN— The Guardian (@guardian) 6 septembre 2017<br /><br /><br />What are the details of the referendum?<br /><br />They were revealed amid a tense atmosphere in the 135-seat regional government.<br /><br />All Spanish citizens living in Catalonia will be asked “Do you want Catalonia to be an independent republic?”<br /><br />There will be no minimum turnout requirement to make the result of the referendum binding.<br /><br />Carles Puigdemont says ballot boxes, voting papers and an electoral census are at the ready.<br /><br />The new assembly would declare independence within 48 hours of a “yes” vote.<br /><br />Acabo de signar, amb tot el govern, la convocatòria del referèndum d'autodeterminació de Catalunya. Per la llibertat i la democràcia! pic.twitter.com/Q5h7z2abPN— Carles Puigdemont (KRLS) 6 septembre 2017<br /><br /><br />But not everyone was in favour?<br /><br />No. Lawmakers who opposed independence abandoned the chamber before the vote, with some leaving Catalan flags in their empty seats.<br /><br />How has Spain responded?<br /><br />The government in Madrid has vowed to stop what it says will be an illegal vote.<br /><br />The government has asked the Spanish constitutional court to declare the referendum law void as soon as it is approved by the regional parliament.<br /><br />The Spanish constitution states the country is indivisible.<br /><br />Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy told a news conference on Monday the government would come down with all the force of the law to ensure no referendum would go ahead.<br /><br />MADRID (AP) – #Spain‘s prime minister says government asking for top court to suspend #Catalonia referendum on independence— Matt Lee (@APDiploWriter) 7 septembre 2017<br /><br /><br />Has this happened before?<br /><br />Yes. Courts have already suspended from office and leveled millions of euros in fines at Catalan politicians who organised a non-binding referendum in 2014.<br /><br />It returned a “yes” vote on a low turnout.<br /><br />What do the polls say?<br /><br />Polls in the northeastern region show support for self-rule waning as Spain’s economy improves.<br /><br />However, the majority of Catalans do want the opportunity to vote on whether to split from Spain.<br /><br />What they are saying<br /><br />El Parlament aprova per majoria absoluta la Llei del Referèndum!<br />Conjurats amb la llibertat i la democràcia! Seguim ForcadellCarme i KRLS pic.twitter.com/2XgRY9XxzN— Oriol Junqueras (@junqueras) 6 septembre 2017<br /><br /><br />“Committed to freedom and democracy! We push on!” – Catalonia’s deputy governor Oriol Junqueras tweeted.<br /><br />““What is happening in the Catalan parliament is embarrassing, it is shameful,” – Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria told reporters.<br /><br />“You will not split up Spain, but you are breaking up Catalonia, you are putting social harmony at risk,” – Alejandro Fernandez of the governing People’s Party told pro-independence lawmakers.<br />
