MADRID--A day after a majority of Scots voted against secession
from the U.K., the parliament in the wealthy, industrial Spanish
region of Catalonia approved a law to allow for its own, albeit
nonbinding, referendum on independence.
The 106-28 vote Friday set Spain on a path toward a legal and
political crisis. The central government in Madrid has vowed to
block the referendum, which it says is unconstitutional.
After the law is published in the coming days, Catalonia's
regional president, Artur Mas, is expected to sign a decree
formally convoking the referendum for Nov. 9. At the Spanish
government's request, the Constitutional Court is then expected to
issue an injunction to halt the vote.
Mr. Mas has expressed misgivings about going ahead with the
referendum in violation of Spanish law because the vote might lack
international credibility. Another way for him to satisfy
pro-independence groups clamoring to cast ballots would be by
calling early regional elections as a proxy vote.
During the Catalan parliament's 2 1/2 -hour debate, many
speakers took note of the historic nature of the proceedings.
"Democracy without liberty is a sham and we want to vote--not a
sham," said pro-referendum congresswoman Dolors Camats.
Albert Rivera, leader of the Citizens' Party and an opponent of
the referendum, said that those advocating it were being
irresponsible. "This isn't a day of celebration, but of worry
because these separatist movements have a sword over Europe's
head," he said.
Catalan separatists complain that the government in Madrid
drains the region of tax revenue without offering sufficient
respect for its language and culture. Spanish government officials
maintain that Catalonia receives economic benefits from being part
of Spain and has plenty of autonomy under the constitution.
Overshadowing the parliamentary speeches was a national
discussion over the meaning of Scotland's referendum. In a measure
of the acrimony surrounding the Catalonia question, nearly all
major political figures interpreted the Scots' "no" vote in their
own way.
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy congratulated the Scots for having
voted for stability and the integrity of the European Union. "They
have chosen between segregation and integration, between isolating
and opening," Mr. Rajoy said. He didn't mention Catalonia.
EU officials, and Mr. Rajoy, have warned both the Scots and the
Catalans that any new states carved out of existing EU members
would have to reapply for membership, and wouldn't be admitted
easily.
Mr. Mas, while acknowledging disappointment at the result, saw
the Scottish referendum as an exemplary exercise in giving a voice
to the people. He exhorted Mr. Rajoy to follow the example of U.K.
Prime Minister David Cameron by allowing Catalans to vote on their
status.
"What happened in Scotland has been a positive lesson in
democracy," Mr. Mas said. "That is the only path to resolving this
conflict, a democratic response."
About the resounding "no" vote in Scotland, he added: "Whoever
thinks this a hurdle for our own process is fooling himself."
The Socialist party leader Pedro Sánchez, who has argued for a
constitutional reform that might satisfy Catalan grievances through
greater federalism, emphasized the 11th-hour concessions toward
greater autonomy that Mr. Cameron offered Scotland to stem the
pro-independence tide.
"Scots have chosen self-government over doing nothing or a
breakup," Mr. Sánchez said.
Write to Matt Moffett at matthew.moffett@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires