Catalan lawmakers reject negotiating new independence referendum

The Catalan parliament has rejected a proposal from Junts to negotiate a new independence referendum.

The proposal came during the general policy debate, submitted by the pro-independence party that was part of the government that spearheaded the 2017 self-determination vote that was deemed illegal by Spanish courts.

The text of the proposal called for a referendum to be raised "in the negotiation space enabled for this purpose." According to Junts, this 'space' refers to the negotiation table in Switzerland agreed between the Socialist Party and Junts for the backing of Pedro Sánchez as Spanish Prime Minister.

Only pro-independence Esquerra Republicana, far-left pro-independence CUP, and the left-wing Comuns, who are not aligned on the independence question, voted in favour, along with Junts themselves. 

The ruling Socialist Party, the conservative People's Party, far-right Vox, and far-right pro-independence Aliança Catalana voted against.

Housing

Meanwhile, lawmakers also rejected the "nationwide deal" proposed by president Salvador Illa to "imminently" activate all the plans across Catalonia to build more affordable housing.

The Socialist Party was the only one to vote in favour of Illa's plan. 

The proposed resolution urged the government to put all resources into developing plots to create up to 214,000 homes by 2030, with almost half reserved for social housing.

The parliament has, on the other hand, approved asking the government to demand the transfer of ownership of all real estate in Catalonia owned by Sareb, Spain's 'bad bank', to Catalan authorities.

The vote came after president Salvador Illa announced an agreement with the Spanish government to "manage", but not transfer, the 13,000 homes Sareb owns.

The chamber rejected a Comuns propsal asking the government to study and implement the legal changes necessary to prohibit speculative purchases of homes.