SINN Féin Foyle MLA, Karen Mullan has called on the Spanish Government to respect the legislation recently passed by the Catalan Parliament to allow for a democratic and legally binding referendum on independence to take place on 1 October 2017.
A delegation of Sinn Féin Youth from Derry will travel to Barcelona this weekend to celebrate the Catalan National Day (Monday) and they will take part in events along with the JERC (Catalan Youth Movement)
The Derry delegation includes Caolán McGinley, Dáire Lamberton ,Joe Dunn and Lauren Hegarty
Speaking as Catalans prepare to celebrate their National Day, Karen Mullan said: “A majority of Members of the Catalan Parliament have approved legislation to allow an independence referendum to take place on 1 October 2017.
“It is clear that the majority of elected representatives and the people of Catalonia want a democratic and legally binding referendum to be held.
“The Spanish Government has so far denied that legitimate expression of democracy and refused to negotiate with the Catalan Government to allow a referendum on independence.
“The Spanish Government should respect this newly passed law and immediately open meaningful negotiations with representatives of the Catalan Government to ensure a referendum free from coercion and outside influence can be carried out on this date.
“I believe that the people of Catalonia should have the right to democratically decide their own future in a democratic referendum on 1 October,” she added.