Criminal charges sought over Catalan referendum vote

Spain's state prosecutors office said it would present criminal charges against members of the Catalan parliament for voting yesterday to hold an independence referendum, which the Spanish government says is illegal.


The state prosecutor-general, Jose Manuel Maza, told reporters that his office would also present criminal charges against members of Catalonia's government for signing off on the law.

Mr Maza said he had asked Spain's security forces to investigate any preparations by the Catalan government to hold the referendum.

A majority of Catalonia's parliament voted to hold the referendum on splitting from Spain on 1 October.

MPs who opposed independence abandoned the chamber before the vote, with some leaving Catalan flags in their empty seats.

Pro-independence MPs, led by regional head Carles Puigdemont, sang the Catalan national anthem once the votes were counted.
 [rte.ie]
7/9/17
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