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Catalan pro-independence campaigners persevere despite Scottish no vote Catalan pro-independence campaigners persevere despite Scottish result
(about 1 hour later)
Catalan pro-independence campaigners said that the anti-independence vote in Scotland would have little effect on their push to secede from Spain. Catalan pro-independence campaigners say the anti-independence vote in Scotland will have little effect on their push to secede from Spain.
"What happened in Scotland was exactly what we expected would happen," said Ricard Gené of the Catalan National Assembly on Friday, one of the grassroots movements that has been driving the Catalan independence movement and campaign for a referendum. As the Yes campaign had only gained strength in recent days, the result in Scotland "had not come as a big surprise." "What happened in Scotland was exactly what we expected would happen," said Ricard Gené of the Catalan National Assembly, one of the grassroots movements that has been driving the Catalan independence movement and campaign for a referendum.
The takeaway message, he stressed, was the fact that a referendum had taken place. "The main point for us is that the Scots have been able to vote and express their will collectively for their future. Whether they voted yes or no, that would have been all right," he said. "What we really feel is envy about the possibility of voting. This is what we are fighting for." As the yes campaign had only gained strength in recent days, the result in Scotland "had not come as a big surprise", he said on Friday.
The takeaway message was the fact that a referendum had taken place. "The main point for us is that the Scots have been able to vote and express their will collectively for their future. Whether they voted yes or no, that would have been all right," he said. "What we really feel is envy about the possibility of voting. This is what we are fighting for."
His message was echoed online, where pro-independence campaigners on Twitter pointed to the vote in Scotland as an example to be followed in Spain. "In Scotland they voted yesterday and afterwards, nobody died. Surprising?" wrote one person. "In Scotland the yes campaign lost, but democracy won. Spain has a lot to learn," wrote another.His message was echoed online, where pro-independence campaigners on Twitter pointed to the vote in Scotland as an example to be followed in Spain. "In Scotland they voted yesterday and afterwards, nobody died. Surprising?" wrote one person. "In Scotland the yes campaign lost, but democracy won. Spain has a lot to learn," wrote another.
Catalan lawmakers are expected to pass a law this afternoon allowing them to legally hold a non-binding referendum as planned for 9 November. "It's a very important day," said Gené, adding that the National Assembly was organising a rally this afternoon outside the Catalan parliament to support the new law. Catalan lawmakers are expected to pass a law on Friday afternoon allowing them to hold a non-binding referendum as planned for 9 November. "It's a very important day," said Gené, adding that the CNA was holding a rally in the afternoon outside the Catalan parliament to support the new law .
Earlier this week, Spain's foreign minister José Manuel García-Margallo said his government would use "the full force of the law" to block any type of vote in Catalonia, suggesting the Spanish government will challenge the Catalan law in Spain's constitutional court. Earlier this week, Spain's foreign minister, José Manuel García-Margallo, said his government would use "the full force of the law" to block any type of vote in Catalonia, suggesting the Spanish government will challenge the Catalan law in the constitutional court.