Spain's Catalonia region calls for independence vote


Catalonia leader Artur Mas signed a decree calling for an independence vote on Saturday, directly defying Spain's central government in Madrid.
"Catalonia wants to decide pacifically and democratically its political future," Mas said. "Nobody should fear that somebody expresses his opinion by placing a vote in a ballot box."
Catalonia includes Barcelona, and it is one of Spain's most prosperous regions, accounting for one-fifth of the country's economy. While the region has always been independence-minded, Spain's fiscal woes have spurred increased support for Catalonia's secessionist movement. Supporters of the independence vote say Madrid disproportionately uses Catalan taxes in order to support the country's poorer regions. Catalonian lawmakers reflected those frustrations in a 106-28 vote in favor of authorizing the referendum.
Subscribe to 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.
The call for a vote comes in the wake of Scotland's independence referendum earlier this month. Voters chose to remain part of the United Kingdom, but Mas says the exercise was "a great lesson in democracy."
Spain's prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, swiftly panned the referendum in a statement made by his deputy prime minister, saying any vote held would be "unconstitutional."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
-
July 20 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include AI replacing workers, and Donald Trump trying to divert media attention away from the Epstein files
-
5 suspiciously good cartoons about the Epstein files
Cartoons Artists take on the relationship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein
-
A glorious Greek island without the 'swank'
The Week Recommends Lesbos doesn't welcome 'hoards' of tourists, but is 'magnificent' and worth exploring
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department