(VOVworld) – Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on Wednesday that he would not allow a referendum on Catalonia’s autonomous community independence, because it was unconstitutional.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (R) and Catalonian President Artur Mas.

Rajoy made his statement before talks with Catalonian leaders in Madrid on the referendum, which was scheduled to be held by the end of this year. The talks are believed to be the last efforts made to avoid a constitutional separation between the Spanish and the autonomous governments. Artur Mas, head of the Catalonian government, said that public opinion surveys indicated that most of the Catalonian people supported the calls for a referendum.