Top Spanish court declares Catalan independence vote illegal

Spain's Constitutional Court cancels Catalonia's November 9 independence vote in 2014 on Thursday, declaring it illegal.

Stating that the referendum violated authorizations that belonged solely to the Spanish government, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called Catalonia's Nov. 9 independence vote a "complete failure".

"Spain will not change its position nor will we offer any special plan for Catalonia's independence," Rajoy said, speaking at a press conference.

Sunday's symbolic consultation was a failure, Rajoy said, since two thirds of Catalans, in Spain and abroad, did not vote.
"It was not a democratic vote, it was an act of political propaganda," Rajoy said.

Rajoy's remarks came a day after the president of the Catalan government, Artur Mas, urged the Spanish prime minister to undertake the necessary steps to allow Catalans to hold a legal independence referendum.

Rajoy rejected any possibility for a referendum for independence.

"The parliament of Catalonia is empowered to initiate a process of constitutional reform. It is the only legal way to approach this process, and Mas knows this," he said.

Rajoy said Mas must respect the decisions of the constitutional court of Spain which prohibited Catalonia's consultation. "What was illegal one year ago remains illegal today," Rajoy said.

The turnout of the vote On Nov. 9, 2014 was 37 percent and about 1.6 million Catalans who took part in the symbolic vote chose secession from Spain.

"Some 2.3 million people out of a total of 6.3 million eligible voters took part in the ballot. Of those who did participate 1.9 million -- over 80 percent -- voted in favour of independence." reported AFP on Thursday.