Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says a referendum on Catalan independence won't take place because it would be illegal.
"This referendum can't take place, it is not legal," Rajoy told parliament during an annual state of the nation debate.
"No one can unilaterally deprive the entire Spanish people of the right to decide on their future."
Catalan political chief Artur Mas's ruling coalition and a majority of other parties in the northeastern Spanish region are calling for a November 9 referendum that would ask voters if they think that Catalonia should be an independent state.
Many Catalans point to Scotland, whose leaders have called a referendum on independence from Britain.
The proposal appears doomed however, given that a Catalan independence referendum is opposed by Spain's two largest national parties.
Under the current Spanish constitution, referendums can only be called by the national government in Madrid, not by the governments of Spain's 17 autonomous communities, of which Catalonia is one.
Rajoy said he was open to dialogue as long as it was within the constitution and law.
"Anyone who would like to change it can propose that, but they most follow the steps and rules that the constitution lays out," he said.
Proud of their distinct language and culture and fed up after five years of stop-start recession, many of the 7.5 million people in Catalonia want to redraw the map of Spain, saying they feel short-changed by the central government which redistributes their taxes.
Catalonia accounts for one-fifth of Spain's total output and an even greater share of its exports.
A recent poll by the Catalonia Centre for Opinion Studies showed that those favouring greater autonomy or outright independence far outweighed those who wanted to stick with Spain.
