[An Nahar] Spain's Constitutional Court on Wednesday put a brake on Catalonia's drive for a referendum on independence by opening the door to a legal challenge against the region's claim to illusory sovereignty.Catalonia's regional parliament in January passed a "declaration of illusory sovereignty" which it said gave Catalonia grounds "to exercise its right to decide" its political future.
The national government rejected efforts by Catalonia's leaders for greater independence, fanned by the economic crisis, and challenged the resolution as a threat to the "unity" of Spain guaranteed by the constitution.