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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Spanish region in symbolic vote | Spanish region in symbolic vote |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Spanish region of Catalonia is holding an unofficial referendum on independence as part of a campaign to move the issue up the political agenda. | The Spanish region of Catalonia is holding an unofficial referendum on independence as part of a campaign to move the issue up the political agenda. |
| One in 10 of the region's 7m residents are being asked if Catalonia should "become a social, democratic and independent state". | One in 10 of the region's 7m residents are being asked if Catalonia should "become a social, democratic and independent state". |
| The outcome has no legal force, as any referendum in Spain must be mandated by the national government. | The outcome has no legal force, as any referendum in Spain must be mandated by the national government. |
| Catalonia, which includes the city of Barcelona, is Spain's richest region. | Catalonia, which includes the city of Barcelona, is Spain's richest region. |
| Accounting for 25% of the country's GDP, it has its own language, Catalan, and already enjoys autonomous status. | Accounting for 25% of the country's GDP, it has its own language, Catalan, and already enjoys autonomous status. |
| Supporters hope that Sunday's poll will be the first step towards a formal ballot for a separate state, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports. | Supporters hope that Sunday's poll will be the first step towards a formal ballot for a separate state, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports. |
| Almost 170 Catalan towns and villages are holding ballots, staffed by thousands of volunteers. | Almost 170 Catalan towns and villages are holding ballots, staffed by thousands of volunteers. |
| Further referendums are being planned in other parts of the region, including Barcelona, Girona and Lleida, early next year. | Further referendums are being planned in other parts of the region, including Barcelona, Girona and Lleida, early next year. |
| 'Fiscal pillaging' | 'Fiscal pillaging' |
| "The turnout has been good," said Uriel Bertran, spokesman for the referendum's organisers, at around midday. | "The turnout has been good," said Uriel Bertran, spokesman for the referendum's organisers, at around midday. |
| REFERENDUM OBSERVERS Scottish National PartyWelsh nationalist party Plaid CymruIrish nationalist party Sinn FeinRepresentatives from Italy's South Tyrol region, the French island of Corsica, Belgium's Flemish region and the Canadian province of QuebecRepresentatives from Spain's Galicia and Basque regionsSource: AFP news agency | |
| "Tomorrow Catalonia will awake as if it is another country, with new hope." | "Tomorrow Catalonia will awake as if it is another country, with new hope." |
| A statute on relations with the Spanish state which was approved by Catalans three years ago gave the region more local jurisdiction and what many believe is a fairer share of the revenue collected. | A statute on relations with the Spanish state which was approved by Catalans three years ago gave the region more local jurisdiction and what many believe is a fairer share of the revenue collected. |
| But Spain's main opposition party is contesting the statute in the Constitutional Court and many Catalans fear key provisions of the law will soon be overturned, our correspondent says. | But Spain's main opposition party is contesting the statute in the Constitutional Court and many Catalans fear key provisions of the law will soon be overturned, our correspondent says. |
| Joan Laporta, chairman of the Barcelona football club, told the Spanish newspaper El Pais that the vote was a reaction to central government pressure on the region. | Joan Laporta, chairman of the Barcelona football club, told the Spanish newspaper El Pais that the vote was a reaction to central government pressure on the region. |
| "Catalonia is dying, they are killing it and we must react," he said. | "Catalonia is dying, they are killing it and we must react," he said. |
| "No Catalan can accept the fiscal pillaging that we are suffering nor the attacks on the rights and freedoms of Catalonia." | "No Catalan can accept the fiscal pillaging that we are suffering nor the attacks on the rights and freedoms of Catalonia." |
| Teams of international observers from regions of the world with independence or secessionist movements are attending Sunday's vote, AFP news agency notes. | Teams of international observers from regions of the world with independence or secessionist movements are attending Sunday's vote, AFP news agency notes. |
| They include representatives of the Scottish National Party and the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein, as well as others from Italy's South Tyrol region, the French island of Corsica, Belgium's Flemish region and the Canadian province of Quebec. | They include representatives of the Scottish National Party and the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein, as well as others from Italy's South Tyrol region, the French island of Corsica, Belgium's Flemish region and the Canadian province of Quebec. |
| Political representatives of Spain's Galicia and Basque regions, which both have independence movements, are also observing the vote. | Political representatives of Spain's Galicia and Basque regions, which both have independence movements, are also observing the vote. |