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Catalonia launches campaign for independence referendum

15 September 2017 00:33 (UTC +04:00)

Catalan separatists have announced their decision to start a campaign for a vote of independence from Spain, despite Madrid vowing to stop the move, APA reports quoting Press TV.

The campaign was scheduled to kick off on Thursday at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) in the port of Tarragona about 100 kilometers south of Barcelona.

Catalonia's parliament has laid the ground for a referendum on independence from Madrid on October 1.

Spain's central government insists the vote is illegal and the Constitutional Court has suspended it, pending a formal decision by judges.

Spanish police have orders to prevent preparations for the ballot, while anybody collaborating in its organization is also legally liable.

President of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont and representatives of Catalonia's main separatist parties and associations have announced their decision to attend the gathering at a 10,000-seat capacity bullring in Tarragona.

The pro-independence camp has two weeks to win over its critics who are reluctant to take part in the independence referendum.

If they win, the separatists have vowed to declare independence within days for the wealthy northeastern region of Spain, with its capital Barcelona, which is home to around 7.5 million people.

Parties that oppose secession will not take part in the campaign for the referendum, which was declared illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court, and have asked their supporters to boycott the vote.