BARCELONA: The leader of Spain’s wealthy Catalonia region on Tuesday called off an independence vote but said an unofficial poll would still be held next month to gauge secessionist sentiment.

Artur Mas was forced to call off the Nov. 9 referendum after the Spanish government challenged its legality before Spain’s Constitutional Court, which suspended the vote while it deliberates on the issue. Separatists in northeastern Catalonia, which has 7.5 million people, have been trying for several years to hold a vote to break away from Spain and carve out a new Mediterranean nation.

Secessionist sentiment surged during Spain’s economic stagnation and with discontent at Spain’s refusal to give the region more autonomy and fiscal powers.

Polls show that while most residents of Catalonia support holding the vote, only around half favor ending centuries-old ties with the rest of Spain.

Mas insisted his regional government was not backtracking and said the Spanish state’s refusal to let them hold a vote was to blame.

He said the regional government still intends to push ahead with an official vote at a later date but added the symbolic vote would serve as a “preliminary” ballot.

“The Catalan government maintains its goal of holding a referendum on Nov. 9; it means there will be polling stations open, with ballot boxes and ballots,” Mas said. “It will depend on the people for a strong enough participation to show that people here want to vote.”