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The pro-independence Catalan government, known as the Generalitat, is currently locked in a battle with Madrid over its demands for an independence vote. According to reports in Spain’s El Pais, the Generalitat’s bill indicates its intention to move towards independence even if the Spanish government forbids it from holding a referendum. Catalan's ruling coalition promised a vote on the matter would be held no later than September this year.

GETTY Catalonia wants independence from Spain

Similar to Scotland’s independence referendum ballot, the ballot paper would hold just one question: “Should Catalonia be an independent state from Spain?”. Reports suggest there will be no minimum participation threshold, and the result would be binding, coming into force within 48 hours after adoption. According to El Pais, the document defines the status of the Catalan citizens, the procedure of obtaining citizenship, as well as which Spanish laws would remain in force after the region's secession.

GETTY Former Catalan President Artur Mas has been barred from office

The draft suggests Catalan citizenship would be granted to every Spanish citizen residing in a Catalan municipality for at least one year, or can prove a minimum of two continuous years of residency in the region in the past. In both cases, the applicant will not have to relinquish their Spanish citizenship. The Catalan draft law also envisages establishing a republic, taking immediate control of the judiciary in the region and seizing state property in Catalonia.

GETTY Catalan parliament President Carme Forcadell is is charged with civil disobedience

Spain’s constitution does not allow for secession, and relations between the two governments have soured greatly over the issue in recent years. Earlier this year, a federal court barred former Catalan President Artur Mas and two other former officials from public office for holding a symbolic independence referendum in 2014. The trio were also fined thousands of euros. However, the results revealed a staggering 80 per cent majority backed independence.

Following the leaking of the secretly drafted bill, Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy accused Catalonia’s President Carles Puigdemont of blackmailing the state. Mr Rajoy said the alleged plan was "intolerable," labelling it the most serious incident he had seen in his career. He went on to demand that Mr Puigdemont present his secession proposal before Parliament and explain why is "threatening and blackmailing the state."

GETTY The Spanish northeastern autonomous region celebrates its National Day on September 11

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