Catalonia government to decide by October 15 whether to hold referendum

MADRID (Reuters) - The government of the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia will decide by Oct. 15 whether to push ahead with a contested referendum on separation from the rest of Spain, a spokesman said on Monday.

Catalonia, with a population of 7.5 million people, its own language and accounting for a fifth of Spain's economy, has long sought independence and was buoyed by the close result of last month's referendum in Scotland.