Catalan independence referendum would be illegal - PM

Catalan independence referendum would be illegal - PM

MADRID -- Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy has said that a referendum on Catalonia's independence, announced for November 9, would be illegal, and will not take place.

"The referendum cannot take place, it is not legal," Rajoy said in the Spanish parliament during the annual speech on the state of the nation, AFP reported.

"It is the entire Spanish people who have the capacity to decide what Spain is. No one can unilaterally deprive the entire Spanish people of the right to decide on their future," the prime minister explained.

The ruling coalition in the Spanish province of Catalonia, led by Artur Mas, along with local parties, plans to to hold the referendum and ask voters two questions: "Do you think that Catalonia should be a state, yes or no?," and, "If you answered yes, do you want that state to be independent, yes or no?"

The latest survey conducted in Catalonia showed that the province has a lot more voters who favor greater autonomy or even independence than those who support remaining a part of Spain.

Catalonia has a population of 7.5 million, and participates with one fifth in the country's GDP, while it has an even greater share in the overall Spanish exports.