Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has moved to block Catalonia’s efforts to split from Spain.

He announced on Wednesday that his centre-right government had filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court to try to invalidate a pro-independence resolution adopted two days earlier by the Catalan regional assembly.

“What we are asking is for the resolution and its effects to be suspended,” Rajoy said.

“Obviously a parliament can approve, within its powers, laws and resolutions that it considers to be timely and appropriate. This is an appeal against a resolution that aims to break up the unity of Spain.”

Monday’s breakaway moves spearheaded by Artur Mas, acting head of Catalonia’s government, have
deepened a stand-off with Madrid ahead of next month’s general election.

Dominated by pro-independence parties, the regional parliament has backed a process aimed at
forming a Catalan republic, in what is one of Spain’s wealthiest regions, within 18 months.

The declaration it has passed rejects Constitutional Court decisions as not legitimate.

Euronews