CRI听力:Spanish Court Suspends Catalan Independence Referendum

Spain's Constitutional Court has suspended a planned independence referendum for the country's Catalan region on November 9.

The Spanish government launched an emergency appeal of the referendum law passed by the regional parliament in Catalonia, saying it's unconstitutional.

Spain's constitutional court now has 5-months to decide whether to allow the planned independence referendum to go ahead or not.

Catalan President Artur Mas has already unveiled a blueprint for potential independence, trying to show a separate Catalonia as being both politically and technically viable.

Mas contends the blueprint is proof Catalans are ready to face the secession process.

"We are ready to make it happen. And that puts us in the right spotlight regarding politics if by politics we understand doing what is needed. We are ready to do whatever is needed. And what is needed now? Catalans have told us what is needed. And what is needed is to vote."

However, a recent poll has shown 45-percent of Catalans are in favor of suspending the referendum if the Constitutional Court declared it illegal.

Lawmakers in Barcelona this month voted 79-percent in favor of holding an independence referendum in the Catalan region, which lies on the southeast of Spain, and includes the country's 2nd largest city.

Catalan politicians unhappy at Spain's refusal to give it more autonomy and fiscal powers have been pushing for the referendum for months.