Secessionist parties in Catalonia have wasted no time following the reconvening of the regional parliament.
The Junts pel Si bloc and leftist CUP declared the beginning of the process for independence from Spain with a nine-point road map they hope to pass in the Catalan assembly.
Declaration on the start of #Catalonia’s transition to independence. By JanneRiitakorpi https://t.co/Kkr0rJdLYD pic.twitter.com/MtWXUGsGHu— This is Catalonia (ThIsCatalonia) October 27, 2015
It will be debated until November 9. If approved, basic laws for founding an independent state will be decided on within 30 days, with a view to establishing a Catalan republic within 18 months.
Madrid reacts
Reacting to the statement a day after announcing the dissolution of parliament ahead of a December general election, Spain’s incumbent Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy once more reiterated his opposition to the idea of an independent Catalonia.
“This initiative can only qualified as an act of provocation, wh
