Catalonian Independence: Informal Vote Shows Majority Wants Split With Spain
Despite the objections of the government in Madrid, Catalonians held an informal vote on Sunday regarding their independence from Spain. The results indicated a majority of the more than two million Catalans who participated in the vote said they want to break away from Spain. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, in September the semi-autonomous Catalonian government passed a law allowing Catalans to hold a non-binding referendum on the matter of secession, and a vote was scheduled on November 9. Later that month, Spain’s government made good on a promise to block the vote and filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court. This action means an official referendum is not possible until the court rules. According to BBC News, Catalonia’s regional president said he considers the poll “a great success.” He added that the result is clear evidence that the issue warrants a formal vote. Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala released a statement on the Catalonia independence referendum and said the following.
“The government considers this to be a day of political propaganda organised by pro-independence forces and devoid of any kind of democratic validity.”
Catala also said that Spain’s attorney general is investigating whether or not legal action can be taken against the organizers of Sunday’s vote, on the grounds that it could be considered an invalid poll. Yahoo News reported that the justice minister said the following regarding the possible illegality.
“Spain is a consolidated democratic regime, where there is freedom of speech and expression and in which referendums are governed by strict rules ensuring impartiality and neutrality. None of this requirements were met today.”
Catalonian secessionists have taken inspiration from Scotland’s recent bid for independence. However, Catalans may have a more difficult struggle before them on the path to a formal vote, according to the New York Times. This is because, unlike Spain, the British government was willing to give its official blessing to the Scottish referendum. A potential issue with Catalonia’s Sunday vote is that it was organized by volunteers in order to bypass the use of governmental institutions. This may mean the poll could have limited impact in the eyes of other nations, should Catalonians seek foreign support for sovereignty. What do you think about the efforts of Catalonians to declare their independence from Spain? Do you think they should have the right to make such a move? [Image via rt.com]
