(VOVworld) – The government of Catalonia in north-eastern Spain on Monday decided to cancel the November 11 referendum on its independence from Spain.

Artur Mas, the Catalonian president, at a rally in May. (Photo: AFP)

Artur Mas, Head of the Catalonian government, said that the referendum would not be held due to a lack of legal guarantees, adding that he would propose an alternative plan to offer the Catalonians an opportunity to decide their political future. Artus Mas is one leader of calling for a referendum on Catalonia’s future independence from Spain, despite protests from the Spanish government. Although the Spanish Constitutional Court ordered the postponement of the referendum to review its legitimacy—a process which could take years to complete—the Catalonian government still tried to push ahead with it.