Catalonia Officially Launches Independence Referendum Campaign

Local Editor

Catalonia's independence referendum campaign is officially underway, brushing aside Madrid's firm pledge to prevent the October 1 scheduled vote from taking place through an official judicial suspension coupled with probes against regional mayors.

Thousands of Catalan independence supporters flooded a concert arena in the port town of Tarragona to set in motion a two week ‘Yes' campaign that was initiated Thursday evening by the regional president, Carles Puigdemont.

Madrid, however, insists the referendum is illegal. Spain's Constitutional Court has suspended the vote pending a formal decision by its judges. Authorities have been given orders to stop the ballot, and anyone helping to organize the referendum may be found legally liable.

On Wednesday, the Office of the Prosecutor summoned 712 regional mayors as part of efforts to investigate collaborators with the planned vote. Catalonia's pro-separatist government had asked regional leaders to arrange facilities for polling stations.

Puigdemont denounced the central government's actions and said in a future Catalan state, "no polls or ballots will be suspended, no mayors will be threatened, no media will be intimidated."

The campaign's opening ceremony, which lasted two hours, was celebrated with much enthusiasm and optimism, despite Madrid's direct warning that staging a rally in the Tarraco Arena would constitute a crime.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team