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Catalonia to vote on whether to seek right to hold independence referendum Catalonia votes to ask Madrid for secession referendum
(about 2 hours later)
Catalan lawmakers are to vote on Thursday on whether to seek the right to hold a referendum on independence from Spain. Catalan politicians have voted in favour of asking for the right to hold a referendum on independence from Spain – a milestone in years of mass protests by Catalans, who are fiercely proud of their distinct culture and language.
The vote is a milestone in years of mass protests by Catalans, who are fiercely proud of their distinct culture and language. As lawmakers entered the Catalan parliament in Barcelona for a debate before the vote, dozens of Catalans waved independence flags and a smaller group unfurled Spanish flags, yelling: "Catalonia is Spain." As politicians debated at the Catalan parliament in Barcelona before the vote, dozens of Catalans outside waved independence flags. A smaller group unfurled Spanish flags before the debate began, yelling "Catalonia is Spain!"
But the vote is also largely a symbolic one. Catalonia can ask Spain for permission to hold an independence vote all it wants; Madrid still has the power to say no, and it almost certainly will. But the vote is also largely symbolic: Catalonia can ask Spain for permission to hold an independence vote but Madrid still has the power to say no, and it almost certainly will.
The prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has repeatedly said he will not allow Catalonia a secession referendum because Spain's 1978 constitution does not envision anything but a unified Spanish state, and stipulates that referendums affecting Spain must be held nationally and not regionally. He has an absolute majority in parliament, which assures he will prevail, and the main opposition Socialist party also opposes a referendum. Mariano Rajoy, Spain's prime minister, has repeatedly said he won't allow a Catalonia secession referendum because Spain's 1978 constitution doesn't envision anything but a unified Spanish state, and mandates that referendums affecting Spain must be held nationally and not regionally. He has an absolute majority in parliament that assures he will prevail, and the main opposition Socialist party also opposes a referendum vote.
Still, the vote, which those in favour of secession are expected to win easily, could fan the flames of an already impassioned independence movement, especially if it garners the two-thirds majority that supporters are hoping for. A strong separatist message may also inspire independence movements elsewhere in the European Union at a time when European unity has been rocked by economic crisis. Belgium's Flemish speakers are gearing up to push for greater autonomy in May elections, while Scotland is preparing to hold its own referendum on breaking away from Britain in September. Still, the vote on Thursday could fan the flames of an already impassioned independence drive, even though it fell just short of the two-thirds majority that supporters hoped for. A strong separatist message may also inspire independence movements elsewhere in the European Union at a time when European unity has been rocked by the economic crisis.
Even if Madrid refuses to allow an independence vote, Catalan politicians might decide to try to hold a referendum anyway. That would put them in perilous legal terrain: when the northern Basque region, where separatist sentiment is also strong, failed to obtain permission for a similar referendum in 2005, Spain said Basque leaders could face jail if they went ahead with a vote. Even if Madrid refuses to allow an independence vote, Catalan politicians might decide to try to hold a referendum anyway. That would put them in perilous legal terrain: when the northern Basque region, where separatist sentiment has also raged, failed to obtain permission for a similar referendum in 2005, Spain said Basque leaders could be jailed if they went ahead and held the vote anyway.
A less extreme scenario would be to use Catalan regional elections as a kind of unofficial referendum, with parties obliged to clearly state where they stand on independence. Under such a situation, any vote for a pro-independence party would be taken as a de facto vote for independence. A big yes turnout would give further ammunition to independence supporters to push for a referendum, with or without Spain's approval.
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