The Catalan Government has decided Tuesday to push for the planned regional vote for independence from Spain on Nov. 9 despite the high court's ruling suspending the movement.

Catalonia's spokesman, Francesc Homs, said they are all set for the referendum on November 9. He also said the regional government is pressing with the vote regardless of the consequences.

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Homs said about 40,000 volunteers are ready to stage Sunday's ballot which asks Catalans two questions: whether the region should become a state and whether it should be a state independent from Spain.

The spokesperson's remarks came shortly after Spain's Constitutional Court decided to block the vote following an appeal from the central government that has earlier outlawed any public consultation on independence. It was the second time the high court sided with the Spanish government.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has repeatedly condemned the planned referendum as illegal under the pretext of restrictions indicated in Spain's constitution, which protects the unity of the country against any divisive measures.

Three weeks before, Catalonia's leader Artur Mas announced that Sunday's referendum will be held mostly as a symbolic vote in a bid to skirt legal restrictions. Voters will have to register on the spot and the results will serve more as a survey of public opinion rather than a formal election.

Mas remains under pressure from Catalonia's break-away minded to keep the movement on track. However, he has also refused to hold the vote if it were to violate the law and could potentially spark a constitutional crisis for the central government, The New York Times reported.

The independence movement in Spain's wealthiest region has been growing in the last decade and had peaked during the independence referendum in Scotland.

Recent polls indicate that while Catalonia is nearly evenly split on the issue of independence, the majority of residents want to stage a referendum.

With the Supreme Court suspending the movement for an indefinite period of time, the Nov. 9 Catalan independence referendum is expected to become a formal consultation of citizens.

TagsCatalonia, Catalan independence referendum, Spain-Catalonia, Spain, Catalan independence