Catalonia tp hold polls on Sept-27 as proxy independence vote

BARCELONA;   The leader of Spain's wealthy
Catalonia region signed   a decree on Monday
calling early parliamentary  elections on September
27 which he has said  will act as proxy vote on
independence

The decree signed by Catalan president Artur Mas
made no reference to independence for the
northeastern region,which is home to 7.5million
people and accounts for a fifth of Spain 's economic
output.

But Mas who already face criminal charges for
staging a mock independence referendum in
November despite objections from the central
government ,has said that if pro-secession parties
win a majority ,they will aim to split from Spain,
within 18 months.

"Politically they will not be normal elections
politically they are a plebiscite on Catalan freedom
and sovereignty "he said Thursday.

Spain conservative central government fiercely
rejects the idea that the Catalan elections should
be interpreted as a referendum on independence.

Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saaenz de
Santamaria  said that under the constitution
thevote can ony be about selecting a new
Catalan parliament -AFP