Spanish minister warns Catalan nationalist leader

MADRID, Oct. 15 — Spain’s Justice Minister, Alberto Ruiz Gallardon on Monday warned the nationalist leader of Catalonia Artur Mas that he would be causing a “crime” if he called a referendum on the region’s independence.

Gallardon was speaking just a day after which Mas was confirmed as the candidate of the Catalan nationalist party, Convergencia y Unio, for the elections of the Catalan regional parliament in November.

Speaking on La Sexta television channel, Gallardon said that calling a referendum in Catalonia would be considered an act of disobedience and could be punished with three to 12 months’ disqualification from office and a fine.

Meanwhile, speaking in Barcelona, Mas said that if the Spanish government attempted to stop any possible referendum, he would “openly internationalize the conflict, by taking the case to “Brussels and the European tribunals.”

Last week saw the Spanish Congress voted against a proposal by the more radical Catalan nationalist party, Ezquerra Republicana to permit the calling of a referendum.