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CATALONIA’S regional parliament has approved a plan to set up a road map for independence from Spain by 2017, in defiance of the central government.
The chamber, based in Barcelona, passed the motion by 72 votes to 63.
The proposal was made by pro-secession politicians from the Together For Yes alliance and the extreme left-wing Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP). The groups together obtained a parliamentary majority in regional elections in September.
The Spanish government reacted swiftly. In a nationally televised address, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said that his government will appeal against the decision at the Constitutional Court, which has in the past blocked moves towards independence.
