The independence process and the 1st October referendum continue making headlines in the international press. For example, this Friday, the US newspaper The New York Times has published an article entitled "Catalonia Independence Bid Pushes Spain Toward Crisis".
"The accelerating battle over Catalonia's status hit warp speed this week". With those words Raphael Minder starts his long article about the Catalan situation which explains that, while "Catalan lawmakers voted to go ahead with an Oct. 1 referendum on separating from Spain", "Spain's constitutional court declared the vote suspended."
The text recalls last month's attacks in the region, saying this led to a "show of unity" which, however, "was but a brief spasm". Instead, they say it is a "chaotic political crisis that threatens to push Spain into uncharted territory".
"Separatist leaders now face fines and suspension from office if they go ahead with the referendum, which has been declared illegal", suggests the article. It also notes the context that Catalonia has a different language and that, in 2010, Catalonia's amended Statute of Autonomy was struck down by the constitutional court at which point "tensions came to the fore".
"Each side accuses the other of anti-democratic behaviour", writes Minder, adding that Puigdemont argues that "Democracy [is] to listen to the citizens" and accuses Rajoy of "doing 'another thing' by threatening punishment, with the support of Spanish judges".
Finally, he believes that the Catalan government "seem prepared to pursue their fight" whilst Rajoy "leads a minority government in Madrid and a conservative Popular Party mired by corruption scandals".