BARCELONA—The Spanish government on Wednesday asked a top court to block the Catalan regional government’s bid to hold a referendum on independence, the latest clash in what has become Spain’s most pressing political issue.

Lawmakers in Catalonia’s regional parliament were debating proposed legislation to convene a referendum on independence when Spain’s deputy prime minister said in televised remarks that the government wouldn’t...</s>related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.

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The Spanish government on Thursday took steps to prevent a referendum on independence for Catalonia from going ahead on Oct.1 and to prepare criminal charges against regional lawmakers who had voted to hold the ballot.

MADRID: The Spanish government on Thursday took steps to prevent a referendum on independence for Catalonia from going ahead on Oct.1 and to prepare criminal charges against regional lawmakers who had voted to hold the ballot.

A majority of Catalonia's parliament voted on Wednesday to hold the referendum in an acrimonious session in which mainstream political parties left the chamber during the vote and pro-independence lawmakers sung the Catalan anthem.

The government says any referendum on regional secession from Spain is illegal as the constitution states that the country is indivisible.

Spain's state prosecutor's office said on Thursday it would present criminal charges against leading members of the Catalan parliament for allowing Wednesday's parliamentary vote to go ahead.

The state prosecutor-general, Jose Manuel Maza, told reporters he had also asked the security forces to investigate any preparations by the Catalan government to hold the referendum. This could involve printing leaflets or preparing polling stations.

Teachers, police and administrative workers are among civil servants that could risk fines or potentially the loss of their jobs by manning polling stations or taking part in other activities deemed as helping the vote.

Barcelona residents on Thursday had mixed feelings about the possibility of a referendum.

"It will never be legal if it's not agreed with the government," said 53-year-old interior designer Laurent Legard. "This is not the right path."

Dolores, a 55-year-old receptionist who declined to give her surname, disagreed.

"We are delighted - we've been waiting for this moment for many years. It really is a democracy to allow people to give their opinion about how they want to live and how they want their country to be," she said.

Catalan's regional head, Carles Puigdemont, has said the results of the referendum will be binding no matter what the turn-out is. Analsyts have said a low turn-out would harm the legitimacy of the result.

Catalonia will declare independence within 48 hours of a "yes" vote, the referendum law states.

A non-binding ballot on independence in 2014, for which Catalan politicians have already been punished for preparing, gave a "yes" vote with a turn-out of just over 30 percent.</s>The Spanish government is asking the country's constitutional court to suspend a bid by leaders in Catalonia to hold a referendum on independence.

Prime minister Mariano Rajoy made the announcement after an urgent meeting with members of his cabinet.

He said the vote, planned for October 1, is illegal and an attack on Spain's and Catalonia's institutional order.

In a televised appearance, the conservative leader said the vote does not have the democratic protections needed to be considered a referendum and promised it would not take place.

He also branded a parliamentary showdown on Wednesday to approve the referendum's legal framework a "political perversion" by the leaders of the Catalan government.

Earlier, Spain's leading prosecutor said criminal suits are being lodged to prosecute Catalan officials responsible for scheduling the vote on independence.

Chief state prosecutor Jose Manuel Maza said two different lawsuits are in the works, one that seeks to punish members of Catalonia's parliament who allowed the debate and vote on the legal framework of the referendum, and a separate one against the executive branch of the regional government, whose members officially called the referendum.

He said the officials could be charged with disobedience, abuse of power and embezzlement.

The state prosecutor's office has also instructed officials and police forces in Catalonia - the north-eastern region whose capital is Barcelona - to investigate and stop any actions taken towards the celebration of the referendum.</s>Parliament in Spain's prosperous Catalonia region has approved an independence vote for October 1, which Madrid has vowed to stop.

Separatist parties, which hold a slim majority, backed the referendum legislation and legal framework needed to set up an independent state.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy ordered government lawyers to file a complaint with the country's constitutional court in hopes of annulling the referendum.

Polls in the northeastern region show support for self-rule waning as Spain's economy improves. But the majority of Catalans say they do want the opportunity to vote on whether to split from Spain.

The vote will come about three weeks after Barcelona and a nearby town were struck by Islamist attacks that killed 15 people.

Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría condemned the Catalan leadership for carrying out "an act of force" and for acting more like "dictatorial regimes than a democracy."

"What is happening in the Catalan parliament is embarrassing. It's shameful," she told reporters.

But Catalan leaders have pledged to proclaim a new republic within 48 hours if the "yes'' side wins, regardless of turnout.

Former Catalan President Artur Mas said pushing ahead with the referendum was justified because a pro-independence coalition won the 2015 regional election.

"The referendum is what we have to do because we have the mandate of the peoples of Catalonia,'' Mas said.</s>MADRID, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Spain's government has asked the Spanish constitutional court to declare void a referendum law that Catalonia's separatist government is expected to pass later on Wednesday, Spain's deputy prime minister said.

Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had asked the court to challenge the law, which will approve a referendum on Catalan independence on Oct. 1, since the law goes against previous rulings.

"What is happening in the Catalan parliament is embarrassing, it's shameful," Saenz de Santamaria told reporters in Madrid.

Catalan lawmakers are due to vote on laws approving the referendum and the legal framework to set up an independent state. The laws will likely be approved because pro-independence parties have a majority in the regional parliament. (Reporting by Sonya Dowsett; Writing by Angus Berwick; Editing by Jesus Aguado)</s>MADRID (AP) - The Latest on the Catalan government's bid to hold an independence referendum (all times local):

Spain's top prosecutor says criminal suits are being lodged to prosecute Catalan officials responsible for scheduling a vote on independence that authorities see as breaching the country's top laws.

Catalonia regional President Carles Puigdemont, right, applauds next to vice-president Oriol Junqueras, left, after the voting during a plenary session at the Parliament of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. Catalan lawmakers are voting on a bill that will allow regional authorities to officially call an Oct. 1 referendum on a split from Spain, making concrete a years-long defiance of central authorities, who see the vote as illegal. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Chief state prosecutor Jose Manuel Maza says two different lawsuits are in the works, one that seeks to punish members of Catalonia's parliament who allowed the debate and vote on the legal framework of the planned Oct. 1 referendum, and a separate one against the executive branch of the regional government, whose members officially called the referendum.

He said the officials could be charged, among other things, with disobedience, abuse of power and embezzlement.

The state prosecutor's office has also instructed officials and police forces in Catalonia - the northeastern region whose capital is Barcelona - to investigate and stop any actions taken toward the celebration of the referendum.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's office says members of his cabinet are meeting Thursday to react to plans by Catalan leaders who have scheduled a vote on the region's secession from Spain.

Rajoy is also discussing the crisis separately with leaders of the two main opposition parties, his office announced, in an effort to project political unity against the separatists' defiance.

The government is seeking to stop the Oct. 1 vote by appealing to the country's constitutional court, which has previously ruled that a referendum can only be called with the approval of central authorities. Other possible measures have not been disclosed.

Judges in Spain's top court are also considering a request by Rajoy to punish members of the regional Catalan parliament who on Wednesday allowed the passing of a legal framework for the referendum.

Members of the Catalan Popular Party display Spanish flags just before abandoning the session ahead of the voting during a plenary session at the Parliament of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. Catalan lawmakers are voting on a bill that will allow regional authorities to officially call an Oct. 1 referendum on a split from Spain, making concrete a years-long defiance of central authorities, who see the vote as illegal. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)</s>MADRID (AP) — The Latest on the Catalan government’s bid to hold an independence referendum (all times local):

Spanish media are reporting that the country’s top court has preventively suspended the call for a referendum on Catalonia’s independence after accepting an appeal by central authorities in Madrid.

The move was widely expected after Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced the government was challenging both a controversial bill meant to legitimize the independence vote and a decree by the regional Catalan government summoning voters for the Oct. 1 ballot.

According to court regulations, the suspension lasts for 5 months while judges come up with a ruling.

The pro-independence coalition ruling in Catalonia, a prosperous region in northeastern Spain, claims that the universal right to self-determination overrules Spain’s laws.

Political parties in Catalonia’s parliament are engaged in a game of cat-and-mouse as opponents of the region’s independence from Spain keep derailing efforts by secessionists to open a debate on issues related to a planned referendum.

Thursday’s parliamentary session was repeatedly held up as anti-independence parties tabled motions which required lengthy discussions on procedural technicalities.

The parliament was scheduled to debate a law that would function as the transitional constitution of a new Catalan republic if local people vote “yes” to independence on Oct. 1.

Meanwhile, Spain’s national government in Madrid is throwing legal obstacles in the way of Catalonia’s breakaway ambitions, asking the Constitutional Court to rule on the legality of the ballot. The court may issue a decision after a meeting later Thursday.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says Spain’s government is asking the country’s constitutional court to suspend a bid by leaders in Catalonia to hold a referendum on independence from Spain on Oct. 1.

Rajoy made the announcement after an urgent meeting with members of his cabinet. He said the vote is illegal and an attack against Spain’s and Catalonia’s institutional order.

In a televised appearance, the conservative leader said the vote doesn’t have the democratic protections needed to be considered a referendum and promised it would not take place.

Rajoy also branded a parliamentary showdown on Wednesday to approve the referendum’s legal framework a “political perversion” by the leaders of the Catalan government.

Spain’s top prosecutor says criminal suits are being lodged to prosecute Catalan officials responsible for scheduling a vote on independence that authorities see as breaching the country’s top laws.

Chief state prosecutor Jose Manuel Maza says two different lawsuits are in the works, one that seeks to punish members of Catalonia’s parliament who allowed the debate and vote on the legal framework of the planned Oct. 1 referendum, and a separate one against the executive branch of the regional government, whose members officially called the referendum.

He said the officials could be charged, among other things, with disobedience, abuse of power and embezzlement.

The state prosecutor’s office has also instructed officials and police forces in Catalonia — the northeastern region whose capital is Barcelona — to investigate and stop any actions taken toward the celebration of the referendum.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s office says members of his cabinet are meeting Thursday to react to plans by Catalan leaders who have scheduled a vote on the region’s secession from Spain.

Rajoy is also discussing the crisis separately with leaders of the two main opposition parties, his office announced, in an effort to project political unity against the separatists’ defiance.

The government is seeking to stop the Oct. 1 vote by appealing to the country’s constitutional court, which has previously ruled that a referendum can only be called with the approval of central authorities. Other possible measures have not been disclosed.

Judges in Spain’s top court are also considering a request by Rajoy to punish members of the regional Catalan parliament who on Wednesday allowed the passing of a legal framework for the referendum.</s>Spain's government has asked the Spanish constitutional court to declare void a referendum law that Catalonia's separatist government is expected to pass later on Wednesday, Spain's deputy prime minister said.

MADRID: Spain's government has asked the Spanish constitutional court to declare void a referendum law that Catalonia's separatist government is expected to pass later on Wednesday, Spain's deputy prime minister said.

Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had asked the court to challenge the law, which will approve a referendum on Catalan independence on Oct. 1, since the law goes against previous rulings.

"What is happening in the Catalan parliament is embarrassing, it's shameful," Saenz de Santamaria told reporters in Madrid.

Catalan lawmakers are due to vote on laws approving the referendum and the legal framework to set up an independent state. The laws will likely be approved because pro-independence parties have a majority in the regional parliament.</s>MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Spanish Constitutional Court’s plenary session has accepted the government’s lawsuit filed with regard to Catalonia’s forthcoming independence referendum.

According to the Spanish EFE news agency, the Constitutional Court's extraordinary meeting started at 7 p.m. local time (17:00 GMT) to consider enacting four documents, aimed at suspending the referendum.

Catalonia’s President Carles Puigdemont, who pledged to look for an agreement on independence from Spain back in the fall of 2016, said on June 9 that the region’s independence vote would be held on October 1. The move came when, in late May, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy refused to hold talks on the terms and conditions of the referendum in which the citizens of Catalonia would decide the political future of the region.</s>MADRID — The Latest on the Catalan government's bid to hold an independence referendum (all times local):

Spain's top prosecutor says criminal suits are being lodged to prosecute Catalan officials responsible for scheduling a vote on independence that authorities see as breaching the country's top laws.

Chief state prosecutor Jose Manuel Maza says two different lawsuits are in the works, one that seeks to punish members of Catalonia's parliament who allowed the debate and vote on the legal framework of the planned Oct. 1 referendum, and a separate one against the executive branch of the regional government, whose members officially called the referendum.

He said the officials could be charged, among other things, with disobedience, abuse of power and embezzlement.

The state prosecutor's office has also instructed officials and police forces in Catalonia — the northeastern region whose capital is Barcelona — to investigate and stop any actions taken toward the celebration of the referendum.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's office says members of his cabinet are meeting Thursday to react to plans by Catalan leaders who have scheduled a vote on the region's secession from Spain.

Rajoy is also discussing the crisis separately with leaders of the two main opposition parties, his office announced, in an effort to project political unity against the separatists' defiance.

The government is seeking to stop the Oct. 1 vote by appealing to the country's court, which has previously ruled that a referendum can only be called with the approval of central authorities. Other possible measures have not been disclosed.

Judges in Spain's top court are also considering a request by Rajoy to punish members of the regional Catalan parliament who on Wednesday allowed the passing of a legal framework for the referendum.
Spain plans to sue leading members of the Catalan Parliament over the proposed independence referendum in Catalonia.