Spanish prime minister says Catalan move is an ‘attack on Spain’s sovereignty’

The Spanish prime minister has accused Catalan separatists of working to destroy centuries of unity and vowed not to allow them succeed.

Speaking after the government filed a challenge against a Catalan regional parliament decision to set up a road map for independence by 2017, Mariano Rajoy said the Catalan move was an attack on Spain’s sovereignty and democracy.

He said: “We’re talking about the defence of an entire country. They are trying to liquidate the unity of a nation with more than five centuries of history.”

The government called on the Constitutional Court to suspend the Catalan resolution while it is being studied, and warned Catalan officials against taking any further secessionist steps.

Catalonia’s pro-independence regional govt is shooting itself in the foot https://t.co/ZMbFgJRiYk @mahargbf #Spain pic.twitter.com/khvh8CdlZc

— Reuters Breakingviews (@Breakingviews) November 10, 2015

The court was due to meet later last night.

The secession resolution authorised the economically powerful region’s incoming government to begin work on a Catalan constitution and on establishing tax-collecting and social security systems.

Polls show that most Catalans support a referendum on independence, but are divided over independence.

The region of 7.5 million inhabitants represents nearly a fifth of Spain’s economic output.