MADRID, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The parliament of Catalonia in northeast Spain passed a proposal Thursday to hold a popular consultation for self-determination, local media reported.
The proposal was adopted by a large majority in the parliament with 84 favoring, 21 voting against and 26 abstentions.
Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Thursday that the result encourages Catalonia to organize the popular consultation, something that his government is trying to avoid.
The official told a press conference that the Catalan move would violate Spanish constitution, adding Spanish government would take legal actions to stop the vote.
On Tuesday, Catalan leader Artur Mas called for early elections in November, saying the decision was made under pressure of a massive demonstration that occurred on Sept. 11 (Catalonia's national day), where 1.5 million people took to the streets in Barcelona for independence.
The northeastern region of Spain, Catalonia, established autonomous community in late 1979 and is the richest region in the country.
Economic woes in Spain spurs Catalan nationalists to seek independence in the hopes that the region could have more fiscal sovereignty to fight against their debts problems.
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