Madrid, Catalonia tensions spike over independence
Barcelona
(AFP) - Catalonia's separatist government hit out Thursday at reported
plans by Madrid to close schools in the northeastern region and even
take control of the police to stop a contested independence referendum.
The
latest spike in tensions between the wealthy Spanish region and the
central government comes as jitters continue in Europe following
Britain's shock vote to leave the European Union.
"This
threat is very serious and affects the essence of democracy: stopping
access to polling stations," Neus Munte, spokeswoman for the Catalan
government, told regional radio RAC1.
Catalonia's
government decided last year to hold a Scotland-style binding
referendum for independence this September -- a move ratified in a
resolution voted by the majority separatist, regional parliament.
Catalonia's
government decided last year to hold a Scotland-style binding
referendum for independence this September -- a move ratified in a
resolution voted by the majority separatist, regional parliament (AFP
Photo/JOSEP LAGO)
government decided last year to hold a Scotland-style binding
referendum for independence this September -- a move ratified in a
resolution voted by the majority separatist, regional parliament (AFP
Photo/JOSEP LAGO)
