Referendum law makes it to Parliament

Crucial day in the long-expected clash of wills between Catalonia and Spain over the referendum on independence. The Catalan Parliament Bureau admitted the independence referendum law for debate Wednesday morning. The decision is raising the whole political temperature in Catalonia and Spain to unseen levels.

Discussion over agenda's alteration 

Ruling coalition Junts pel Sí asked for the plenary's agenda to be altered at 10.15am (CET) in order to fast-track passage of the bill and final vote. All the opposition parties took part in a debate immediately afterwards to discuss whether to accept the modification. The far-left pro-independence CUP supported voting on the referendum bill. “We have found no other way to carry out the will of this country,” said CUP spokesperson, Anna Gabriel. “We have found a State, a judiciary system and a majority in the Spanish parliament who think that beyond the indissoluble unity of Spain there is no life, and thus, no rights,” she said.

Opposition parties oppose referendum bill discussion and vote

The other groups’ representatives rejected fast-track passage of the bill. The main opposition party, Ciudadanos, ironically compared Wednesday's plenary session with the Catalan National Theater. “This Parliament can discuss anything, but within the law and democracy,” said spokesperson, Carlos Carrizosa.

The Socialists also rejected the proposal. “In democracy, in order for a law to be legal, it has to follow all the proceedings,” said Ferran Pedret. The Catalan branch of the Spanish ruling People’s Party expressed the same view. “It does not fulfill the minimum requirements to be discussed in this plenary,” said lawmaker Santi Rodríguez.