The Constitutional Court is expected to suspend the secession plan while its legality is studied, but Monday’s resolution specifically orders the regional Catalan government to ignore rulings by Spain’s highest court.
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Passed on Monday, the parliament is additionally given by the motion to begin laws on social security system, treasury and a Catalan constitution.
While the government prepared its lawsuit, public prosecutors released an 11-page report that said the promoters of the Catalan resolution could face criminal charges of “sedition” and “disobedience”.
Spain’s state prosecutor had called on the Constitutional Court on Wednesday to suspend the Catalan resolution immediately, the prime minister said after an emergency cabinet meeting.
“The Spanish authorities will say it’s illegal, but what are they going to do?” They had said before the vote that they considered it a de facto referendum on independence from Spain.
The Tribunal Court will meet later on Wednesday to study the appeal.
The resolution was pushed through by the pro-independence “Together for Yes” alliance and the far-left CUP group, which between them won 72 seats in the 135-deputy regional parliament in September elections.
Voters in Catalonia participated in an election Sunday that could propel the northeastern region toward independence from the rest of Spain or quell secessionism for years.
Polls show that most Catalans support a referendum on independence, but are divided over independence. It also wants the court to warn Catalan officials against taking any further steps in the secession process. The CUP has called to take the leadership function over.
Several parties oppose secession in Catalonia, including the Catalan Socialists and Citizens (Ciudadanos), a centre-right party which was born in the wealthy north-eastern region but has attracted increasing popularity across Spain.
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Once the Constitutional Court officially accepts the appeal the Catalan assembly will be obliged to detain the process towards the independence of the region in the northeast of Spain until the Court publishes its findings in around six months.
