Catalonia’s Fight for Sovereignty

 

Just this Sunday, parties that support Catalan independence won the majority of parliament seats in an election billed as a referendum on whether or not to pursue secession. However, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy issued a response, snubbing the pro-independence partie’s ambitions. “I am ready to talk, but not in any way to liquidate the law. I am not going to talk about either the unity of Spain, or sovereignty.” (The Atlantic).

Catalonia represents one-fifth of Spain’s total GDP, and many Catalonians feel as though they are being disproportionately taxed by the government in Madrid. Catalan leaders also seek more recognition of the region’s distinct culture and language, which was unsuccessfully banned by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco during his reign.

As of now and despite strong pull from the pro-separatist faction, the parties failed to win a majority of the vote with 48%. The two groups that make up the pro-separatist parties share the same objective of seceding from Spain, however they do not exactly see eye-to-eye on everything in between. In reference to recently conducted polls, Catalan residents remain evenly split on secession, yet a majority of residents support holding a referendum to determine whether or not to leave Spain. Rajoy has done an adequate job in blocking any statehood initiative in the past, but in the face of coming elections in December the political currents may change direction.

— Jackson Beaver