Catalonia parliament approves Spain secession plan

Catalonia's parliament on Monday voted to draft a plan to gain independence from Spain by 2017, putting itself on a collision course with the country's central government.

The Barcelona-based regional parliament for northeastern Catalonia passed the motion, which was proposed by pro-secession parties Together for Yes and the far left-wing Popular Unity Candidacy by 72 votes to 63, the Associated Press reported.

The motion announced "the start of a process toward the creation of an independent Catalan state in the form of a republic" and a "process of democratic disconnection not subject to the decisions by the institutions of the Spanish state."

Albert Royo-Mariné from the Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia, a group which advocates for independence and has close ties to Catalan President Artur Mas, said Spain's conservative government will react to the vote with a series of legal measures including immediately asking the constitutional court to suspend the motion.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was due to speak Monday.

In a televised address last month, he said the secession plan was an act of provocation "contrary to the constitution, the law, the feelings of the majority of Catalans and the democratic will of Spaniards".

Together for Yes head Raul Romeva on Monday said "there is a growing cry" for Catalonia "to be a state with everything that means." He added: "Today we don't only open a new parliament, this marks a before and after," the Associated Press reported.

The motion gives officials 30 days to start working on a new Catalan constitution, which would be voted on in a referendum. It would not be legally binding.

One of Spain's richest areas, Catalonia in the northeast of the country has a population of about 7.5 million and its own distinct culture and language.