Catalunya independence referendum planned for 2014 and date to be revealed in December

Artur Mas' determination to put Catalunya's secession bid to the vote comes in response to regional socialist leader Pere Navarro Morera's criticising him for 'deceiving the people of Catalunya' by talking about 'a referendum they know they are not going to do'.

Mas and Oriol Junqueras, leader of left-wing Esquerra Republicana Catalana (ERC), both support the move for Catalunya to become a separate country and are convinced the European Union will allow them to continue as a member State automatically.

Navarro criticised them both for 'getting the hopes up' of those who would vote in favour of independence 'under false pretences'.

“Don't say we're deceiving anyone, because we'll do everything possible to make sure the referendum happens in 2014 and Sr Navarro knows that,” Mas told reporters.

“Whether other State institutions block it in every format and via every route is another matter entirely.

“I hope it doesn't come to that, because it would be preventing a people from consulting itself and each other, from being able to simply express an opinion by casting their ballot and in a peaceful manner, which is the very essence of democracy and I hope that in this moment the PSC [Catalunya socialists] will jump on the referendum wagon.”

Mas says he is looking for 'a legal framework' among the 'many possible ones out there' to be able to launch the referendum, and that it would be 'much better' if they could do so with the cooperation of the central government and State institutions.

Criticising Navarro's comments 'after a very cordial meeting' between him, Mas and national government socialist leader Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, Mas says he 'needs all parties to be united' in light of the independence issue.

He intends to have a date for next year's public consultation on independence set by the middle of December this year.