Proposal to let Catalonia hold a referendum

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would delegate to the Generalitat de Catalunya the power to authorize, call and hold a consultative referendum on the collective political future of Catalonia.
2. The referendum would have to be called and held before the end of 2014, and could not coincide with election periods or with a date of high symbolic-political content.
3. The Government of the Generalitat would call the referendum, and the procedure and its safeguards would follow the legislation on referendum and electoral processes and, where applicable, the decree calling it.
4. The preamble argues that the Constitution allows the State to delegate this power through an organic laworganic law A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes., and that a favorable result would require the State and the Generalitat to negotiate loyally and without delay.

Who it affects

• Catalan voters: Could vote in a referendum on Catalonia's political future.
• The Generalitat de Catalunya: Would receive the delegated power to authorize, call and hold the referendum.
• The Spanish Government: Would have to agree on the terms of the delegation and negotiate based on the result.

Words worth knowing

Referéndum consultivo

A consultative referendum: a vote asking citizens' opinion, whose result does not by itself change the law.

Ley orgánica

Organic law: a stricter type of Spanish law that needs an absolute majority in the Congress of Deputies to pass.

Generalidad de Cataluña

The set of self-government institutions of Catalonia (Parliament, President and Government).

Delegación 'ad casum'

A delegation granted for one specific case, not a general one.

organic law

A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries