Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe TD, has welcomed the historic agreement among Catalan parties on the wording of an independence referendum. They propose to hold it on November 9^th, 2014.

Crowe said that it was vitally important that the Spanish government respect the collective view of Catalonian parties and not interfere with the referendum.

Deputy Crowe said:

“I welcome that Catalan parties have agreed on the wording of a referendum on their independence and that they have a set a date for the vote.

“The Spanish government needs to respect the democratic will of the people of the Catalan parties to hold this historic vote and the right of the Catalan people to self-determination.

“The Spanish government cannot use the threat of force and intimidation to prevent this democratic vote.

“On behalf of Sinn Féin I would like to wish our many Catalan friends in Esquerra da Catalunya the very best of luck with their mobilisation for this referendum.”

ENDS