History of Catalunia

[Perikles]

The Grauniad provides a nice pictorial account of the history of Catalunia for anybody wondering about this issue of independence.

Jeez, history is just one damned thing after another.

[Guanche]

There was a program the other night about the Catalunia government, well three of it's top people. The three men mentioned were under Police investigation and it's is thought that between then they have over 130,000,000€ in a Swiss bank account. The three are on the pro-independence side. Sorry no other info. I really didn't understand most of what was said or the names of those involved, but I believe one is the PM of Catalunia.

[Janet]

más for Mas?

[Janet]

There's much talk about this in the papers, and I've just watched a report on ITV's news about it too. The ruling nationalist party lost badly, but to those parties who are even more hardline for independence. Artur Mas still has control, just about, but he'll have to cut deals, and was asked whether the whole situation now means a referendum is more or less likely. More, he said. It can't be avoided now.

As the reporter then said, Madrid won't tolerate this, whether its arguments that such a vote is unconstitution are valid or not. It will get messy, the reporter said.

[Janet]

Interesting article HERE, an interview about Catalonia and the independence movement. It's not very long, but it is informative (and it's in English) ...

[Janet]

Artur Mas has called a press conference at 10 tomorrow morning ... word is he's going to call off the indepedence referendum ...   

[Janet]

So, he called it off, but didn't call it off ...

as far as I understand it, he's turned the referendum into a plebiscite, so it's an expression of public opinion rather than a constitutionally binding result.  As we've seen recently in the Canaries, plebiscites seem to be permitted by the Spanish constitution, so Mas can hold one legally. He confirmed that the questions will remain the same as originally intended, and said that the vote will be "a giant step towards a definitive consultation". The referendum was supposed to be that "definitive consultation" ...

[Perikles]

so it's an expression of public opinion rather than a constitutionally binding result. 

But the intended referendum was not binding either, so what is the difference?

[Janet]

he obviously feels there's enough of a difference to keep him inside the law and outside the jail ...

[Janet]

it's not an independence referendum ... as such ... but there are regional parliamentary elections in Catalonia tomorrow and no-one is in any doubt that it's a referendum in all but name. This is not least because the separatists and pro-independence parties are looking in a very strong position. Spanish PM Rajoy is so worried that he's even been speaking Catalan on the Spanish news! But his attempt to persuade Catalonians that their home is in Spain is likely instead to be mocked because he's known for being nothing of a linguist!