Now it's the turn of the Catalans - or is it?

Catalan parliament approves independence vote

Catalonia's parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of giving its regional president the power to call an independence "consultation".

Spain's government opposes the Catalan "consultation" vote and is taking the dispute to the Constitutional Court.

The move comes a day after Scotland voted against independence from the United Kingdom.

Catalan President Artur Mas said Scotland's referendum had "shown the way" for Catalonian independence.

He is preparing Catalonia for a similar vote on 9 November, with large-scale support for independence from Spain.

Catalonian lawmakers voted by a margin of 106 to 28 in favour of authorising the consultation.

Spain's Constitutional Court is expected to consider the Catalan case on Tuesday and could suspend the region's vote on independence.

'Strong message' 

Mr Mas earlier said Scotland's rejection of independence was "not a setback" and that having the chance to vote was "the key point".

"This is a powerful and strong message that the UK is sending to the entire world - that if there is such a conflict elsewhere in the world you have the right way to try to resolve these differences," he said.

Scotland "has shown the way to others - the Catalan process continues", he added.

"My main commitment is to... organise the referendum and let the Catalan people vote," Mr Mas said.

"If they think in Madrid that by using legal frameworks they can stop the will of the Catalan people, they are wrong."

Resentment

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy warmly welcomed the Scottish "No" to independence.

"With their decision, the Scottish have avoided the grave economic, social, institutional and political consequences that would have resulted from its separation from the United Kingdom and Europe," he said.

"They chose between integration and segregation, between isolation and openness, between stability and uncertainty, between security and a real risk, and they have chosen the most favourable option for everyone, for them, for the rest of the British citizens and for Europe."

Catalonia is one of Spain's richest and most highly industrialised regions, and also one of the most independent-minded.

Until recently, few Catalans had wanted full independence, but Spain's painful economic crisis has seen a surge in support for separation, correspondents say. There is resentment over the proportion of Catalan taxes used to support poorer regions.

Mr Mas can count on support from 79% of the deputies in Catalonia's parliament, the Spanish news agency Efe reports.

The pro-independence movement in Catalonia believes that once Mr Mas signs the new law, the region can go ahead with the independence vote.

Earlier this month hundreds of thousands of Catalans formed a "V" for "vote" along two of Barcelona's main roads calling for their right to vote.


Vocabulary:

overwhelmingly / overwhelming (adj) / to overwhelm -

a dispute -

large-scale -

support (n) -

to expect -

rejection (n) / to reject

a setback -

legal frameworks -

to welcome sth -

painful (adj) -

a surge in sth -

resentment (n) / to resent

to count on sth /sb -

to go ahead -

main (adj) -

to call for sth -


Comments

Roberto said…
If most people in Catalonia wants to be independent,for me it´s OK!.I think words like separatism or nationalism are something old fashioned,and I prefer to unite than to separate.Frontiers(Frontiers or Borders?)create always more problems,but people have the right to determine their future,so I respect that...In any case,I think the result could be similar to the Scottish Referendum.
Graham said…
Hi Roberto,

I think Scotland and Catalonia are two very different cases.

Scotland, like England, is a country in its own right.

Catalonia is a region of Spain.

I understand, to some extent, the strength of feeling that supporters of Catalan independence have.

I was surprised that the YES vote got 45% in Scotland. I have a feeling that the YES vote would be higher in Catalonia.


Borders always create more problems...

A frontier can be between two countries but I think it usually has the meaning of a limit to knowledge eg the frontiers of science and technology.


Did you see my replies to your last few comments?




Montse said…
Hi,Graham. I am back here. How are things going?

I have to say that I don’t know neither the independence Scotch issue nor the Catalonian one deeply, only that they share a hard nationalism feeling. One said that, I read an opinion article the day after the poll in Scotland and they said that if the YES had won the Scots could have had to face the same problems that they have but now by themselves.

I wonder if Scotland could survive as a country by itself…Anyway, I think that the difference makes us stronger.
Graham said…
Montse,

You sound as if you are English. :-) There's no reason why Scotland couldn't survive on its own.

You might be surprised but I'm not a hardened nationalist. But after being bombarded by all kinds of negative stories about what would happen if Scotland went alone, I began to hope for a YES outcome.


I have to say that I don’t know *either the *Scottish issue of independence or the Catalonian one deeply, only that they share a hard nationalism feeling. Having said that, I read an opinion article...

*no double negative: don't know/ neither
* Scotch is what the Americans call whisky.


Montse said…
Is it true? Do I sound like an English??? Well, I don't like it.I think that I've only become in a more practical person and I can understand that indepence feeling but I can't share the wish of being independent.
Graham said…
Hi Montse,

I wasn't being serious :-) though I get upset too if someone calls me English. :D

I think it's hard to share the desire to decide your own future unless you have experienced the history of the Catalans or Scots.

I can empathise with the Catalns though I believe their situation is quite different from that of Scotland.

Is it true? Do I sound like an English person ??? Well, I don't like it.I think that I've only become a more practical person and I can understand that independence feeling but...