Spain’s Constitutional Court makes no concessions to Catalonia over referendum bill

The Spanish Constitutional Court is not willing to make any concessions to Catalonia over the referendum on independence planned for October 1. Even if that means that its judges have to interrupt their summer break. That is what they did on Wednesday in a rare mid-August meeting, in which they turned down an appeal by Catalonia to reconsider the suspension of a ruling which would have enabled political parties to pass the referendum bill after a single reading.

Indeed, they are ready to meet again any time from now on as soon as the Catalan Parliament takes more steps towards the vote on October 1. Although the Spanish government must first lodge an appeal to the court, this can be taken for granted, as its president and ministers have made it clear they're willing to interrupt their holidays to do so.

What the Constitutional Court has suspended

The Catalan pro-independence lawmakers had passed a Parliament reform in late July allowing bills presented by parties to be approved after a single reading. This movement was understood as a maneuver to pass the referendum law, which is essential for providing the referendum on independence with a legal framework, without giving Spain time to suspend it while the proceedings are under way. However, the Constitutional Court provisionally suspended the Parliament reform on July 31 and, despite Catalonia’s motion to reconsider this ruling, the judges confirmed their decision on Wednesday.