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Catalans threaten unilateral independence from Spain

Former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and prominent figure in pro-independence “Junts pel Si” (Together for Yes) coalition, Raul Romeva, speaks in Barcelona, Spain, on July 20, 2015. (© AFP)

Separatists in Spain’s autonomous Catalonia region have announced readiness to declare unilateral independence in case the Madrid government torpedoes a secession process they hope to launch in September’s regional elections.

“If in this process, the Spanish state, through its political or legal decisions, blocks the autonomous government of Catalonia or the Catalan parliament, we will move forward with a declaration of independence,” said Raul Romeva, a former member of the European parliament and prominent figure in the coalition that brings together the center-right CDC and left-wing ERC political parties.

“(We are) going for broke. We are betting everything on this, no turning back,” he stated at the presentation of the Junts pel si (Together for yes) coalition’s list of candidates at the Museo de Historia de Catalunia on Monday.

The remarks come as Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala has hinted at the suspension of Catalonia’s autonomy if a separation process were to get underway, adding that Spain’s constitution made provision for such a move.

Last week, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy also said that “there will be no independence for Catalonia.”

Catalonians cite high unemployment and public debt as main reasons for the decision to secede from Spain.

The region is currently paying Madrid around 16 billion euros a year more in taxes than it gets back from the central government. Catalonia owes around 40 billion euros in debt, which has forced regional authorities to introduce spending cuts in healthcare and education. 

Catalans hold Catalonia pro-independence flags during celebrations of Catalonia National Day (Diada) in Barcelona, Spain, on September 11, 2014. (© AFP) 

 

Many Catalans believe their economy would be more prosperous on its own, complaining that a high portion of their taxes go to the central government in Madrid.

Catalonia, which consists of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona, accounts for one-fifth of Spain’s economic output.

On September 29, 2014, Spain’s constitutional court suspended Catalonia’s referendum on independence after a request from the prime minister.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Barcelona the following day, vowing to disobey Spain’s blocking of Catalonia’s independence referendum.

The Catalan government said on October 3 that year it would push ahead with its scheduled plan to hold the referendum, despite the court order to suspend the vote.


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