Separatists have won a majority in Catalonia's regional parliament – raising the controversial prospect of a declaration of independence from Spain.
The main secessionist group Junts pel Si (Together for Yes) won 62 seats of the 135-member assembly in the country's north-eastern region over the week, while the radical left pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) party won another ten seats.
However, both groups jointly won 47.33 per cent of the regional vote – falling short of the majority they would have needed in a proper independence referendum.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Madrid-based newspapers seized on this, pointing out that most voters backed parties opposed to independence. Spain's leading newspaper El Pais' front-page headline yesterday read: "The independents win the election but lose the referendum."
Nonetheless Artur Mas, the Catalan president, claimed victory on Sunday telling cheering crowds at a rally in Barcelona that the independence camp had the "strength and legitimacy" to push ahead with a plan to separate from Spain over the next 18 months.
The breakaway strategy, described by the Financial Times as the "creation of what will, in effect, be a state within a state", is expected to start by establishing a Catalan foreign ministry, tax authority and central bank over the course of the new legislature.
However, any attempt to break away from Spain is likely to encounter steep opposition by Spain's central government in Madrid, which has already vowed to fight it in court, arguing that independence of Catalonia is in breach of the Spanish constitution, which does not allow regions to unilaterally decide on sovereignty.
Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy recently told broadcaster Onda Cero: "We would go to the constitutional court. And that's the way it is. Full stop." The Guardian reports: "Catalonia could retaliate by walking away from its share of the public debt, accounting for roughly a third of Spain's total debt."
Many Catalans who are in favour of breaking away from Spain say their region, which represents nearly a fifth of Spain's economic output, pays too much in taxes and receives less than its fair share of government investment. Sentiment towards independence grew during Spain's near economic meltdown during the financial crisis.
Jordi Perez, a 50-year-old civil servant told the Associated Foreign Press that he voted for Together for Yes because he feels Spain has historically disparaged Catalan culture and the region's language.
"I have wanted independence ever since I was young," Perez said after voting in Barcelona. "During three centuries they have robbed us of our culture. We have reached the moment that the Catalan people say 'enough is enough'."
-
How are ICE’s recruitment woes complicating Trump’s immigration agenda?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Lowered training standards and ‘athletically allergic’ hopefuls are getting in the way of the White House plan to turn the Department of Homeland Security into a federal police force
-
What is a bubble? Understanding the financial term.the explainer An AI bubble burst could be looming
-
France makes first arrests in Louvre jewels heistSpeed Read Two suspects were arrested in connection with the daytime theft of royal jewels from the museum
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Israel and the Gaza flotillaThe Explainer Activists fear loss of life after blaming Israel for drone attacks on ships
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
Rise of the far-right: what’s behind the popularity of Vox in Spain?The Explainer Disillusioned younger voters are being drawn to Santiago Abascal’s party
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
