Independence referendum date to be moved forward if ‘convenient’ / High-profile Spain trial stokes Catalan independence fervour

The Catalan Government did not exclude the possibility of organising an independence referendum before September 2017, the date initially signalled by President Carles Puigdemont, if 'circumstances' made this option the most 'convenient'. That was according to the Presidency Minister and Spokeswoman of the Catalan Government, Neus Munté on the 31 January 2017. However. the Spanish Vice President, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said that the date of the vote did not matter as a referendum would 'always be against the Constitution'.

This followed a delegation of senior Catalan leaders to the European Parliament in Brussels on the 24 January 2017, which aroused criticism from some Spanish MEPs.

The tensions concerning Catalan calls for independence were heightened by the start of a case being held in Spain's Constitutional Court on the 6 February 2017 against former regional president Artur Mas and two of his cabinet members for holding an earlier non-binding vote on independence in 2014. The Court decided on 13 March 2017 that Mr Mas was to be barred from public office for two years.

ESO: Background information: Summit to organise independence referendum to be held on 23 December 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/summit-to-organise-independence-referendum-to-be-held-on-23-december-2016/

ESO: Key Source: Catalan independence referendum, 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/catalan-independence-referendum-2017/

Politico, 25.01.17: President of Catalonia vows to go ahead with independence vote http://www.politico.eu/article/president-of-catalonia-vows-to-go-ahead-with-independence-vote-referendum-spain/

Politico, 29.01.17: [Opinion]: Why Catalonia’s call for independence is unfounded http://www.politico.eu/article/why-catalonias-call-for-independence-is-unfounded-carles-puigdemont-speech-brussels/

EUObserver, 25.01.17: Catalonia seeks EU support for secession vote https://euobserver.com/political/136662

The Economist, 07.01.17: Spain and Catalonia. In their search for independence, Catalans can resemble Brexiteers http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21713341-region-plagued-corruption-and-unemployment-nationalists-may-not-win-their

BBC News, 13.01.17: Will Catalonia try to secede from Spain this year? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38582121

CNA, 26.01.17: MEPs urge the EU to find a 'democratic solution' for Catalonia http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/meps-urge-the-eu-to-find-a-democratic-solution-for-catalonia-2

El País, 11.01.17: Ex-official faces nine-year ban from office over Catalan independence poll http://elpais.com/elpais/2017/01/11/inenglish/1484147730_963570.html

Deutsche Welle, 05.02.17: Catalonian independence rears its head again http://dw.com/p/2Wtx6

Politico, 05.02.17: Trial takes Catalan rebellion to tipping point http://www.politico.eu/article/trial-takes-catalan-rebellion-to-tipping-point-independence-artur-mas-carme-forcadell-spain/

The Local.es, 05.02.17: High-profile Spain trial stokes Catalan independence fervour http://www.thelocal.es/20170205/high-profile-spain-trial-stokes-catalan-independence-fervour

CNA, 01.02.17: Puigdemont to the consular corps: The referendum will take place with all the legal and democratic guarantees http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/puigdemont-to-the-consular-corps-the-referendum-will-take-place-with-all-the-legal-and-democratic-guarantees

El País, 06.02.17: Thousands march in Barcelona as trial over Catalan independence vote begins http://elpais.com/elpais/2017/02/06/inenglish/1486369207_075542.html

CNA, 06.02.17: Catalan representatives over 9-N trial: 'Voting can’t be considered a crime in any democratic country' http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/catalan-representatives-over-9-n-trial-voting-can-t-be-considered-a-crime-in-any-democratic-country

The Guardian, 06.02.17: Former Catalan PM defends 'democratic' independence vote https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/06/former-catalan-pm-defends-democratic-independence-vote-first-day-trial

Politico, 06.02.17: Catalan trial turns into pro-independence show of force http://www.politico.eu/article/catalan-trial-turns-into-pro-independence-show-of-force-artur-mas-president-joana-ortega-irene-rigau-spain/

The Local.es, 11.02.17: Ex-Catalan chief's trial over independence vote ends http://www.thelocal.es/20170211/ex-catalan-chiefs-trial-over-independence-vote-ends

CNA, 10.02.17: Mas at 9-N trial: “We didn’t disobey but faced up to the Spanish State” http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/mas-at-9-n-trial-we-didn-t-disobey-but-faced-up-to-the-spanish-state

Deutsche Welle, 02.03.17: Inside Europe - Catalan separatists plan for secession vote (Audio) http://dw.com/p/2YWfC

CNA, 27.02.17: Homs enters the court rallied around by hundreds of supporters http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/homs-enters-the-court-rallied-around-by-hundreds-of-supporters

CNA: Tag: 9-N Trial http://www.catalannewsagency.com/9-ntrial

EurActiv, 13.03.17: Catalonia independence leader banned from public office http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/catalonia-independence-leader-banned-from-public-office/

EUObserver, 14.03.17: Catalan separatists to bring cause to 'heart of Europe' https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/137229

Euro|Topics: Debates, March 2017: Disobedience: Catalonia's ex-president convicted http://www.eurotopics.net/en/175994/disobedience-catalonia-s-ex-president-convicted

El País, 14.03.17: Ex-Catalan premier barred from office for two years over independence vote http://elpais.com/elpais/2017/03/14/inenglish/1489485949_289187.html

CNA, 14.03.17: Catalan MEPs report 'disgraceful and anti-democratic' 9-N sentence to the European Parliament http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/catalan-meps-report-disgraceful-and-anti-democratic-9-n-sentence-to-the-european-parliament

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