Catalans may go for unilateral declaration of independence

Catalans may go for unilateral declaration of independence

The French agency added that "Spain's conservative government fiercely opposes independence for the rich northeastern region of Catalonia, which wants to follow Scotland's example by voting on its political future."

"An alliance of pro-separatist parties want the regional vote to serve as a de facto referendum by running on a joint ticket, campaigning on the single issue of independence," the report said, and added, quoting former MEP and key figure in the coalition of the center-right CDC and left-wing ERC Raul Romeva:

"If in this process, the Spanish state, through its political or legal decisions, blocks the autonomous government of Catalonia or the Catalan parliament, we will move forward with a declaration of independence. "(We are) going for broke. We are betting everything on this, no turning back."

The aim would be for a negotiating process to be concluded in 18 months with institutions such as a taxation office set up, while it would also pave the way for a binding independence referendum in 2016, AFP said.

Spain's Justice Minister Rafael Catala "would not rule out the suspension of regional autonomy if a separation process were to get underway," adding that Spain's constitution made provision for such a move, while Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been quoted as saying, "There will be no independence for Catalonia."