BBC: 'Catalonia parliament approves independence referendum'

Parliament in Spain's restive Catalonia region has approved an independence referendum on 1 October which Madrid has vowed to outlaw.

Separatist parties which hold a slim majority backed the referendum bill allowing for a vote on whether the wealthy region should leave Spain.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has asked the constitutional court to nullify it.

He was due to hold an emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday and meet other party leaders.

Image copyrightEPAImage captionCatalan MPs celebrated after the vote

His deputy earlier accused secessionists of trampling on democracy.

Spain's wealthy north-eastern region already has autonomous powers but the regional government says it has popular support for full secession.

The Catalan government has a majority in the regional parliament made up of the separatist Junts pel Si (Together for Yes) coalition and the left-wing CUP party.

Will Catalonia try to secede from Spain this year?

Catalan President Carles Puigdemont signed the bill into local law almost immediately after the vote, when it was adopted with 72 votes in favour and 11 abstentions in the 135-seat chamber in Barcelona.

Unionist MPs from the regional branches of Mr Rajoy's Popular Party (PP), the Socialist Party and the centrist Ciudadanos party had left the chamber in protest before the vote, which followed a marathon debate.

PP members left Spanish and Catalan flags on seats behind them to show their disapproval. However, when an MP from the leftist party Podemos started removing the Spanish ones, she was rebuked by the Speaker, Carme Forcadell.

The decision has plunged Spain into a national crisis only three weeks after jihadist attacks in the heart of Catalonia left 16 people dead and more than 100 others wounded.

Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría condemned the Catalan leadership for carrying out "an act of force" and for acting more like "dictatorial regimes than a democracy".

The war of words intensified when Catalan President Carles Puigdemont accused her of threatening and insulting all Catalans.

Will the vote go ahead?

The pro-independence Catalan government has been preparing for the 1 October vote for months. In its bill announced on Wednesday it said a Yes vote would be followed within 48 hours by a declaration of independence.

Mr Puigdemont says the smallest of margins above 50% will be enough.

So the Spanish government is doing all it can to prevent the vote from taking place. However, an earlier vote in November 2014 did go ahead even after Spain's constitutional court declared it was not an official referendum.

Was Tuesday's vote legal?

The constitutional court argues that Spain's constitution does not allow regions to unilaterally decide on sovereignty.

Former Catalan leader Artur Mas was barred from office by a court earlier this year for running the 2014 vote.

Under a 2015 law, Spanish public servants can be suspended by the constitutional court if they ignore its rulings. Carles Puigdemont insists his position is governed by Catalan regulations and sees any attempt to suspend him as unacceptable.

Other public servants could also be fined and hit by temporary suspensions if they help run the vote.

Catalan leaders have already acted to replace officials not seen as sufficiently supportive of the vote. The head of the region's Mossos d'Esquadra police force, Albert Batlle, resigned from his post over the summer.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41177428

The Guardian (UK): 'Catalonia to hold independence vote despite anger in Madrid'

The Spanish government has accused the Catalan parliament of committing a "constitutional and democratic atrocity" by approving legislation to allow next month's bitterly disputed independence referendum to go ahead.

On Wednesday night, the region's ruling, pro-sovereignty coalition – which has a majority in the Catalan parliament – managed to get the referendum law passed despite angry objections from opposition MPs, who complained that usual parliamentary procedures had been disregarded.

The legislation passed by 72 votes after 52 opposition MPs walked out of the chamber in Barcelona in protest at the end of an ill-tempered, 11-hour session.

The move was denounced by the Spanish government, which once again said it would do everything in its legal and political power to stop the vote from going ahead on 1 October.

The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, ordered government lawyers to file a complaint with the country's constitutional court so that the vote could be annulled.

The public prosecutor's office also said it was preparing a case against Catalan parliamentary officials – including the speaker, Carme Forcadell – for disobeying previous court orders forbidding legislative steps towards independence.

Catalan separatists insist the wealthy north-eastern region has a political, economic and cultural right to self-determination.

But Madrid is opposed to independence, arguing that it is a violation of the constitution, and has refused to offer a Scottish-style referendum on the matter.

Spain's deputy prime minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, described the day's events in the Catalan parliament as a "shameful and embarrassing" betrayal of democracy and the Spanish constitution.

She said that Forcadell and others had disdained the law and their fellow Catalans by pushing through the bill, adding that the speaker "doesn't know what a democracy is or is not".

Sáenz de Santamaría went on: "The government will defend freedom, democracy and coexistence. We won't allow the law to go unheeded in Spain. Let no one doubt that we know what we have to do and that we will do it."

A spokesman for the opposition centrist Ciudadanos party accused Forcadell and others of turning parliament into "the Catalan national theatre", while the party's national leader, Albert Rivera, said the country was enduring "a coup against democracy".

Later on Wednesday evening, Inés Arrimadas, the Ciudadanos leader in Catalonia, announced her intention to bring a vote of no confidence against the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont, to force new regional elections.

Forcadell, a veteran campaigner for Catalan independence and member of the ruling Together for Yes coalition, is already facing criminal charges for disobeying Spain's constitutional court in July last year by allowing a parliamentary debate on a roadmap to independence.

In a tweet on Wednesday, she called on the members of the court to step down, arguing that they were political appointees and as such represented "another extension of the state which has lost all legitimacy".

Forcadell is one of several senior Catalan separatist politicians to have found themselves in court.

In March this year, the former Catalan president Artur Mas was banned fromholding public office for two years after being found guilty of disobeying the Spanish constitutional court by holding a symbolic independence referendum in 2014. Also convicted and temporarily banned from office were the former Catalan vice-president Joana Ortega and former education minister Irene Rigau.

On Tuesday, Spain's court of auditors ordered Mas and 10 other former Catalan officials to reimburse the state for the €5.1m (£4.7m) cost of the referendum by 25 September.

Three months ago, Puigdemont announced that the referendum would be held on 1 October and that voters would be asked: "Do you want Catalonia to be an independent country in the form of a republic?"

More than 80% of participants opted for independence in the 2014 poll – although only 2.3 million of Catalonia's 5.4 million eligible voters took part.

The Catalan government insists that the results of the October vote will be legally binding. If successful, the regional government will declare independence from Spain 48 hours after the result is in and set about building a sovereign state.

In a speech in Madrid last May, Puigdemont said his government had a "democratically inviolable" commitment to the referendum and accused Rajoy of failing to do anything "serious, sincere or real" to address the issue.

A majority of Catalans are in favour of a referendum to settle the question of independence, but polls suggest they are split on the issue of sovereignty.

According to a poll at the end of July, 49.4% of Catalans are against independencewhile 41.1% support it. However, a poll this week found that, were the referendum to go ahead, the yes campaign would take 72% of the vote on a turnout of 50%.

The Catalan government has not set a threshold for minimum turnout, arguing the vote will be binding regardless of the level of participation.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/06/spanish-government-condemns-catalonia-over-independence-referendum

Learn Liberty: 'Breaking up Spain: Secession and individual rights'

by JASON SORENS | Learn Liberty

 
A large region of Spain called Catalonia has announced October 1 as the date of a binding referendum on its independence from Spain. This is the culmination of eight years of independence activism, regional elections, and public consultation. The Spanish government says the referendum is illegal; the Spanish Constitution declares Spain to be "indivisible." If the referendum vote succeeds, should Spain allow Catalonia to secede? And if the Spanish government forbids it, how should other governments respond?

Protecting Citizens' Rights

The first way to think about these questions is to see which course of action better protects citizens' rights. Suppose first that the Catalan government will be roughly as respectful of citizens' rights and liberties as the Spanish government is. (Independentists argue that it will be more respectful; unionists dispute this.) In that case, we can focus narrowly on the right to live under a government of one's own choosing.

People don't talk about this right much, but it's extremely important. If you live in a Western country, your government disposes of 40–60% of your income, subjects you to thousands of criminal statutes, and regulates everything from your intimate family relations to your contracts in the marketplace. Your relationship with your government is, whether you like it or not, the most significant relationship in your life: no one else has the power or legal authority to put you in jail, after all. So why shouldn't your relationship with your government be as consensual as possible?

Working from the premise that it is more just to allow people to live under a government they prefer, we can see the attraction of deciding controversies over sovereignty with a referendum. If more Catalans prefer to live under a Catalan state than wish to live under the Spanish state, then it is better to allow independence. If fewer do, then it is better to forbid it.

Defining the Threshold for Referendum Success

Some scholars have argued that independence referendums should have a greater than 50% plus one threshold for success. The motivating idea here seems to be that the rights of those inclined to oppose independence are more important than the rights of those inclined to support it — and this idea is not as implausible as it sounds. Independence could mean oppression of the minority. Protecting a greater number of people's rights could involve violating more significant rights.

In the case of Catalonia and Spain, it is difficult to argue that Catalonia is likely to violate more rights than Spain does. (There is a pro-independence Marxist party in the Catalan Parliament, but there is also an even larger semi-Marxist party, Catalonia Yes We Can, that opposes independence, and there are also far more right-wing extremists in the anti-independence camp than in the pro-independence camp.) Moreover, the Catalan pro-independence coalition has said that after independence, all Catalan citizens will have the right to dual nationality, retaining their Spanish citizenship. This is an important move by the Catalan government because it reduces any legitimate reasons for those who oppose independence to complain about injustice.

Catalonia could go even further and allow its citizens to choose which government they will pay certain taxes to in exchange for eligibility for excludable services. By "excludable services," I mean those that do not have to be provided for everyone in the territory, as defense, roads, and police do. Social welfare programs and education are examples of excludable services ("private goods" or "club goods" in the language of economics). If pro-Spanish Catalans are allowed to retain the Spanish link for these services, then there is all the more reason to concede a 50%-plus-one threshold for independence.

The Legality and Morality of Catalan Secession

Let's look at some objections to the idea of secession.

First, what about the illegality of secession under the Spanish Constitution? Let's be clear about what constitutions do and do not do.

Constitutions do not tell citizens what to do and impose penalties on those who don't comply. Constitutions constrain and authorize government. They may authorize government to impose penalties on citizens, but they do not require it. "Indivisibility" may mean, at most, that government officials are prohibited from breaking up the country, but it does not mean that government officials must punish citizens who withdraw their consent from the state.

Catalonia has devised its independence process to allow for a citizen-led constituent assembly after a successful independence referendum. Legally speaking, there is no requirement for either the Catalan or Spanish governments to punish citizens who complete the independence process.

Second, under some circumstances, breaking the law is justifiable. If the law is unjust, and breaking the law would not threaten the rights of others or violate any moral duties toward oneself, then it is morally permissible to break the law. A law proclaiming the indivisibility of the state is an unjust law because it does not permit citizens to withhold or withdraw consent: it forces them to be subjected to a legal system to which they never agreed. Breaking even an unjust law shouldn't be done casually, especially by government officials, because it could undermine public order. But if those risks to the rights of others are low enough, then it can be justified.

Upholding the Spanish Constitution

But what about the fact that over 90% of Catalans voted in favor of the Spanish Constitution in 1978, which contained the indivisibility clause? Many Catalans say they voted for the constitution under duress, because the alternative to the constitution was continued dictatorship. This is a valid point. But even if it had not been adopted under duress, there are two additional points to consider.

First, the Catalans who voted for the Spanish Constitution are largely not the same Catalans voting for independence now. A previous generation cannot bind a future generation. I should not be able to make political decisions now that will bind my daughter decades from now.

Second, a principle of common law that has a good basis in ethics is that you generally can't require specific performance from a contract. If I sign a contract agreeing to work for you, and then back out, you can't force me to do the work anyway — that would be slavery. What you can do is sue me for damages. A promise not to secede is like this. At most, breaking the promise would entail compensation for damages, but you can't force someone to remain a part of your group — or your state — against their will.

In conclusion, the more Catalonia does to guarantee respect for the rights of all its citizens after independence, the more confident we can be that Catalonia's independence should be recognized following a successful majority vote.

Source: https://www.learnliberty.org/blog/breaking-up-spain-secession-and-individual-rights/

Salzburger Nachrichten: 'Katalonien: Auf dem Weg zum eigenen Staat'

Katalonien will am 1. Oktober ein Referendum über die Unabhängigkeit von Spanien durchführen. Der Präsident der Region, Carles Puigdemont, glaubt fest an einen Sieg.

In drei Monaten möchte das offizielle Katalonien unabhängig sein. Wie geht es Ihnen dabei jetzt?
Carles Puigdemont: Wenn das katalanische Volk am 1. Oktober beschließt, dass wir unabhängig werden, dann werden wir von der ersten Minute an als Staat handeln. Es wird zunächst ein Übergang beginnen, bis es tatsächlich die volle internationale Anerkennung der Unabhängigkeit Kataloniens gibt.

- Gehen Sie von einer Mehrheit für die Unabhängigkeit aus?

Ich bin überzeugt, ja. Die Mehrheit jener, die schon jetzt wissen, dass sie an der Abstimmung teilnehmen, wird auch mit Ja stimmen. Das sagen alle Umfragen.

- Kritiker in Madrid präsentieren Studien, wonach die Unabhängigkeitsbewegung keine Mehrheit bekommen wird.

Das werden wir sehen. Wir sind auch bereit, ein Votum gegen die Unabhängigkeit zu akzeptieren. Die Frage ist, ob Spanien bereit ist, ein Votum für die Unabhängigkeit zu akzeptieren.

- Katalonien hat als autonome Region viele Rechte, von denen andere träumen. Warum wollen Sie da noch die Unabhängigkeit?

Auf dem Papier sieht Katalonien vielleicht wie eine Region mit viel Autonomie aus. Aber in der Praxis haben wir nur zehn Prozent von dem, was auf dem Papier steht. Wir werden vom Recht, uns selbst zu regieren, praktisch enteignet. Wir haben keine wirtschaftliche Autonomie. Das Verfassungsgericht, das aus Mitgliedern der Partido Popular besteht, annulliert die meisten unserer Gesetze. Wir haben nicht einmal eine Dezentralisierung der Verwaltung. Wenn wir nicht die Mittel eines Staates zur Verfügung haben, verfallen wir in die Dekadenz.

- Was erwarten Sie in dieser Situation von der EU?

Bis zur Abstimmung wird Brüssel sagen, dass das eine interne Angelegenheit Spaniens ist. Und die Kommission wird sich nicht offiziell deklarieren, wenn es kein Mitgliedsstaat verlangt.

- Erwarten Sie denn eine offizielle Position der EU schon vor der Abstimmung?

Wenn die EU Stellung nimmt, was in Katalonien oder Schottland geschehen kann, würde das allen zugutekommen. Und es würde beweisen, dass die These des spanischen Staates nicht stimmt, dass ein Gebiet, das bereits EU-Mitglied ist und alle Voraussetzungen erfüllt, automatisch ausgeschlossen würde. Ich kann mir schon vorstellen, dass nicht alle Staaten mit einer internen Erweiterung glücklich wären. Die Bürger Kataloniens möchten aber, auch wenn sie am 1. Oktober mit Ja zur Unabhängigkeit stimmen, weiterhin Mitglieder in der EU bleiben. Wir haben 7,5 Millionen Einwohner, die nicht aufhören werden, EU-Staatsbürger zu sein. Es gibt nur ein Szenario, in dem das anders wäre. Das wäre, wenn Spanien Katalonien als unabhängigen Staat anerkennen würde, aber keine doppelte Staatsbürgerschaft zuließe.

- Dann müsste Katalonien erst um eine neue Mitgliedschaft ansuchen. Und das würde viele Jahre dauern.

Das wäre widersinnig. Es muss doch im Interesse der EU und Spaniens liegen, dass wir Mitglied bleiben. Katalonien ist Nettobeitragszahler, das ist doch vor allem im Interesse anderer Nettozahler, dass ein starkes Land wie Katalonien auch EU-Mitglied ist.

- Es gibt Studien, wonach viele Unternehmen im Falle der Unabhängigkeit Barcelona verlassen und nach Madrid gehen würden.

Der Prozess hin zur Unabhängigkeit schreckt die Investoren aus dem Ausland nicht ab. Wir stellen einen Rekord nach dem anderen auf. Mehr als 30 Prozent der Auslandsinvestitionen in Spanien gehen direkt nach Katalonien. Dabei sind wir 16 Prozent der Bevölkerung und stellen 20 Prozent des spanischen BIP. Die katalanischen Firmen exportieren mehr denn je zuvor. Ein unabhängiges Katalonien wäre wirtschaftlich auf jeden Fall überlebensfähig. Es ist ein sehr attraktives Gebiet.

- Was müsste Spanien anbieten, damit Sie doch noch auf das Referendum verzichten?

Katalanische Vorschläge hat es dazu schon viele gegeben. Doch das von allen Parlamenten und von der Regierung beschlossene Autonomiestatut wurde vom Verfassungsgericht zurechtgestutzt. Die Frage ist jetzt: Hat Spanien einen Vorschlag für Katalonien? Nein.

- Aber der kann ja noch kommen?

Nichts ist unmöglich. Aber bisher hat der Staat keinen einzigen Schritt gesetzt.

- Gehen Sie davon aus, dass die Regierung in Madrid das Referendum nur verbieten oder auch verhindern will?

Die Regierung von Madrid hat gesagt, sie will beides machen. Aber sie haben nicht erklärt, wie sie das tun wollen. Wir haben ein Parlament, das mehrheitlich die Abstimmung über die Unabhängigkeit möchte, genauso wie die Regierung. Das ist demokratisch legitimiert. Was also soll Madrid machen?

- Zum Beispiel einen Polizisten vor jedes Abstimmungslokal stellen und die Leute nicht reinlassen.

Wenn sie das machen, dann haben sie schon verloren. Die Leute würden trotzdem wählen. Es ist ein Kampf zwischen Demokraten und Kräften, die nicht wollen, dass wir unser Recht auf Selbstbestimmung ausüben. Die einzige Möglichkeit für Spanien, die Unabhängigkeit Kataloniens noch zu verhindern, ist, einen für die Bürger noch besseren Vorschlag zu machen.

- Haben Sie keine Angst, dass Sie wegen politischen Ungehorsams und Verfassungsbruchs abgelöst oder gar eingesperrt werden?

Angst? Nein. Wir sind uns der Risiken bewusst. Die Amtsenthebung berührt mich nicht, denn ich fühle mich von den Menschen bestellt. Was mich besorgt, ist, dass der spanische Staat seine Macht missbraucht und über die Grenzen eines Rechtsstaats hinausginge. Selbstbestimmung und Meinungsfreiheit sind vom spanischen Staat anerkannte Grundrechte. Wir werden darauf nicht verzichten. Das Szenario, dass ich eingesperrt werden könnte, gefällt mir natürlich nicht. Aber ich erwarte, dass Madrid demokratisch reif ist.

- Wie erklären Sie die politische Zurückhaltung vieler Staaten in der Katalonien-Frage? Fürchten da manche einen Dominoeffekt?

Alle Fälle sind unterschiedlich, Schottland, Flandern. Es hat immer wieder Unabhängigkeitsprozesse gegeben. Und es wird weitere geben. Die Staatsstrukturen sind nicht gottgegeben. Das ist eine menschliche Konvention. In einigen Jahren kann der Schirm-Staat auch Europa heißen. Viele Menschen möchten die Themen Steuern oder Sicherheit stärker und besser in Europa koordiniert haben.

- Wie sieht Ihr Verhältnis zu Österreich aus?

Alle Katalanen sind noch heute darauf stolz, dass wir im Spanischen Erbfolgekrieg Erzherzog Karl VI. unterstützt haben. Die Art und Weise, wie die Habsburger Spanien verwaltet haben, war uns viel näher als die der Bourbonen. Der Gedanke der Konföderation, der Gedanke der Einhaltung der historischen Rechte der Katalanen lag den Habsburgern näher. Doch der Krieg ging verloren und damit auch unsere Rechte, die Sprache, die Universitäten. Wir spüren auch heute eine große Bewunderung für die mitteleuropäischen Länder.

- Gehen Sie davon aus, dass Österreich einen neuen Staat Katalonien anerkennen würde?

Die österreichische Regierung hat so wie andere europäische Regierungen eine große Kenntnis der Lage in Katalonien. Wenn wir an die Tür klopfen und vorlegen, dass eine Mehrheit für die Unabhängigkeit ist, dann werden die Staaten, die an der Wurzel der europäischen Werte liegen, uns gegenüber nicht feindlich sein.

Source: 

http://www.salzburg.com/nachrichten/welt/politik/sn/artikel/katalonien-auf-dem-weg-zum-eigenen-staat-254376/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=social&utm_source=Twitter#link_time=1498862413

Referendum in Katalonien: Pep Guardiola ruft zu zivilem Ungehorsam auf

Fußballtrainer Pep Guardiola hat die internationale Gemeinschaft zur Unterstützung eines angestrebten Referendums über die Unabhängigkeit seiner spanischen Heimatregion Katalonien aufgerufen.

Eine entsprechende Abstimmung hatte der Regionalpräsident Carles Puigdemont für den 1. Oktober angekündigt.

Immer wieder versucht die wirtschaftsstarke Region sich vom Hauptland abzuspalten.

Es gehe um das "Recht auf demokratische Selbstbestimmung". Damit hat der Regionalpräsident von Katalonien, Carles Puigdemont, seinen Vorstoß begründet, die Einwohner der spanischen Region über ihre Unabhängigkeit abstimmen zu lassen. Für die Offensive bekommt er prominente Unterstützung: Pep Guardiola springt Puigdemont bei.

"Wir werden am 1. Oktober über unsere Zukunft abstimmen, auch wenn der spanische Staat das nicht möchte", sagte der Trainer des britischen Erstligisten Manchester City bei einer Demonstration in Barcelona. Spaniens Ministerpräsident Mariano Rajoy hatte mehrfach betont, der Loslösung Kataloniens unter keinen Umständen zustimmen zu wollen. Bereits 2014 hatte das spanische Verfassungsgericht ein Unabhängigkeitsreferendum für illegal erklärt. Gegen zahlreiche Unterstützer einer rechtlich unverbindlichen Befragung laufen derzeit Verfahren - unter anderem wegen zivilem Ungehorsam. An der Abstimmung vor drei Jahren hatten sich 2,3 Millionen der 6,3 Millionen Stimmberechtigten beteiligt. Mehr als 80 Prozent stimmten für die Unabhängigkeit.

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/referendum-in-katalonien-pep-guardiola-ruft-zu-zivilem-ungehorsam-auf-1.3542515

The Sun: 'Pep Guardiola enters politics as he demands Spanish government recognise Catalan independence referendum'

Manchester City boss lends his voice to Catalan region's push for independence from Spain. PEP GUARDIOLA has entered political life by demanding Spain give the Catalan region an independence referendum. Manchester City boss Guardiola has been busy this summer strengthening his squad at  the Etihad as he looks to challenge for the Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola is passionate in his support of a referendum on the independence of Catalonia. But the former Barcelona star broke off from his managerial duties to launch an impassioned appeal for the rights of his home area. Keep up to date with ALL the Manchester City news, gossip and transfers on our club page

The Catalan region is planning to hold a vote on whether they should be given independence from Spain on September 1. But until now the Spanish government have refused to acknowledge the claims of the region, and the vote they intend to stage. So Guardiola took to the stage in front of 40,000 people in Barcelona today to make a public appeal for the Spanish government to start listening to the will of the people.

Pep Guardiola attended a rally of 40,000 people calling for Catalan independence. Guardiola said: "We are here today to make it clear that on October 1 we are going to vote in a referendum to decide our future. "We will vote even though the Spanish state doesn't want us to.

"We have tried to reach an agreement 18 times and the answer has always been no.With this response, they ignore the support for a referendum of 80 percent of the population. "They show contempt for the large majority in favour of it in Catalonia's parliament. Pep Guardiola demanded the Spanish government recognise the Catalan referendum
After one season at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola answers some juicy questions

"We have no other solution and the only possible answer is to vote. "We call on the international community to help us.

Guardiola is outspoken in his support for the Catalan region

"We call on all democracies in Europe and around the world to stand by us in defending the rights under threat in Catalonia, such as freedom of political expression and the right to vote to face up to the abuses of an authoritarian state.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/3775242/pep-guardiola-enters-politics-as-he-demands-spanish-government-recognise-catalan-independence-referendum/nasl

Telegraph: 'Pep Guardiola makes impassioned plea for Catalonia to split from 'authoritarian' Spain' #LoveDemocracy

Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City FC, today issued a powerful call to arms for Catalonia's independence referendum, urging the international community to support the Spanish region in defying "an authoritarian state" in Madrid.

The former captain and coach of Barcelona made the unusual public appeal two days after the Catalan president announced an independence vote for October 1, a move that the Spanish government insists is illegal.

Ironically, secession from Spain would see Barcelona FC kicked out of La Liga, the Catalan government has admitted.

The Catalan Government will hold a referendum on their independence from central government on 01 October CREDIT: EPA/MARTA PEREZ

Speaking to a crowd of 30,000 from the steps of Barcelona's National Palace, Mr Guardiola said Madrid was "persecuting political debate" in "a threat that affects all democrats".

"We Catalans are victims of a state that is carrying out political persecution unworthy of a democracy in 21st Century Europe", the football star insisted.

Reading a referendum manifesto in Catalan, Spanish and English, he declared: "We are here to say clearly that on October 1 we will decide our future, even though the Spanish state doesn't want us to."

The vote was announced by Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan president, on Friday after attempts to negotiate a way out of the secession crisis fell apart in recent weeks.

The government of Mariano Rajoy has consistently rejected all attempts to hold a referendum, insisting a vote would be unconstitutional and ordering the country's Supreme Court to focus all its efforts on the issue.

Mr Guardiola holds a ballot box during the protest CREDIT: AP PHOTO/EMILIO MORENATTI

Amid an increasingly vicious war of words, Madrid has accused the Catalan government of mounting a "coup" in the Spanish autonomous region. Mr Rajoy has compared its push for secession - even if unilateral - to that of "the worst dictatorships", and warned a independent Catalonia would be immediately thrown out of the EU. The exchanges have escalated to veiled threats of confrontation: after the Spanish government last month vowed to stop a referendum "by any means", Mr Puigdemont challenged it to explain if the state was "willing to use force."

Spanish state interference is a deeply sensitive issue in Catalonia, where the legacy of General Francisco Franco and his brutal attempts to crush Catalan identity still loom large in the public memory.

On Sunday, to cheers from supporters waving Catalonia's flag, Mr Guardiola accused Madrid of trying to destroy the Catalan movement by blocking infrastructure investment, bringing politically motivated prosecutions against its leaders and undermining the region's school system.

"We appeal to all the democrats of Europe and the world to stand up to the abuses of an authoritarian state", he said.

The president of the Catalan regional government announced last friday that a referendum on the region's independence will be held 1 October CREDIT:  AFP PHOTO / LLUIS GENELLUIS

Pablo Casado, vice-secretary of communication for the ruling Partido Popular (PP), hit back at Guardiola, reminding him that "when you are offside, you are breaking the law... and the referee, which is the government and which is the judiciary, is going to blow the whistle on this illegal play."

Mr Guardiola, born in the central Catalonian town of Santpedor, has been at once the independence movement's biggest celebrity supporter and its most discreet. He symbolically lent his name to the candidate list for the pro-independence alliance in the 2015 Catalan elections - styled as a de facto referendum after a 2014 "consultation vote" was ruled illegal - but has largely avoided speaking publicly on the issue until now.

Now, his intervention - for which he was publicly thanked today by Mr Puigdemont - may be sorely needed. While three-quarters of Catalans support a vote the movement has been losing momentum.

Mr Puigdemont has lost key support, including that of Left-wing party Podemos and the Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, with his insistence on pushing ahead unilaterally, leaving him reliant on more radical pro-independence elements.

An April poll published in Barcelona-based newspaper La Vanguardia found increasing pessimism among independence supporters, with just 29 percent of those who back a vote believing it will happen, down from 37 percent in January.

But with neither side willing to give ground, it remains to be seen how a major collision will be averted. Mr Guardiola insisted that faced with Madrid's instransigence, "we don't have another way out: the only possible response is to vote."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/11/pep-guardiola-makes-impassioned-plea-catalonia-split-authoritarian/

The Guardian: 'Pep Guardiola joins call for referendum on Catalan independence' #LoveDemocracy

Manchester City manager tells crowd of 40,000 at rally in Barcelona 'we have no other option but to vote'. Pep Guardiola speaks at the Catalan independence rally. Pep Guardiola may have played to bigger crowds but none quite like the one he addressed in Barcelona on Sunday when he presented the case for a referendum on Catalan independence. Speaking on the steps of Montjuïc before an estimated 40,000 of his fellow citizens, and flanked by an enormous banner with the slogan "Love Democracy", the former Barcelona and current Manchester City manager read out a brief manifesto in Catalan, Spanish and English.

"We have tried on 18 occasions to reach an agreement on a referendum and the answer has always been no," he told the crowd.

"We have no other option but to vote. We call on the international community to support us and on democrats the world over to help us to defend the rights that are threatened in Catalonia, such as the right of freedom of expression and the right to vote."

On Friday, the Catalan government announced that a referendum on independence from Spain would be held on 1 October. The defiant gesture met with a familiar response from Madrid: not only would such a vote be illegal, it would not be allowed to go ahead.

"They can announce a referendum as many times as they want … but the referendum is not going to take place," said Spain's deputy prime minister, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría. Another minister dismissed it as "a new step in a strategy that's leading nowhere".

The secessionists disagree, arguing that they have been forced to hold the vote because repeated efforts to engage the Spanish government have been thwarted or ignored.

Carme Forcadell, the leader of the Catalan parliament, received a huge ovation at the Barcelona rally when she told the flag-waving crowd "there is no Plan B, the only way forward is a referendum".

Catalonia held an unofficial referendum in November 2014 in which 80% voted for independence, but barely a third of eligible voters turned out.

"I think the turnout will be higher than in 2014 because a lot of people want to have their say," said Jesús Espinosa, waiting in the 30-degree heat for Guardiola to speak. "We've been striving for this for 300 years and we're not going to stop now."

"What I want is for us to have the opportunity to vote and to become an independent Catalan republic and to do it legally and peacefully. Madrid will respond as it's always done because Catalonia is a source of income and they'll fight with all they have to keep it."

After the mass rallies in recent years that have attracted more than a million people, Sunday's turnout of only tens of thousands, according to the Catalan government, might be viewed as disappointing. According to a poll at the end of March, support for independence is falling, with 48.5% of Catalans opposed to seceding from Spain, while 44.3% supported breaking away.

Raül Romeva, the Catalan foreign affairs minister, told the Guardian the regional government had a duty to put independence to a popular vote. "We have tried to reach a consensual agreement with Madrid but their response has always been no," he said.

"At the end of the day – given there's not even been the will to sit down at the table to discuss the question – the Catalan government had a democratic obligation and the mandate to put this to the people of Catalonia so that they can express themselves freely."

Although Spain's constitutional court ruled that a previous, non-binding referendum held in November 2014 was illegal, Romeva insisted there was nothing in the Spanish constitution to stop the new vote going ahead.

"There is no legal problem; it's a political one," he said. "But the Spanish government still hasn't come up with any proposals. We're still waiting but, it would be easier if, instead of making threats, it came up with something."

Madrid has hinted that it could seek to thwart the vote by invoking article 155 of the constitution. In theory, the drastic step would allow it to suspend regional autonomy, order the closure of schools in the region to stop them being used as polling stations and even take control of the Catalan police.

Asked if the Catalan government was planning for such a scenario, Romeva said: "We don't know how the government is going to stop something that is legal, legitimate and democratic … When we know what we need to respond to, we will."

Whatever happened, he added, the Catalan government remained committed to a referendum regardless of its outcome.

"We know that people want to be asked the question," he said. "And if the result of the referendum is no, we'll respect that result, full stop. And if it's yes, that result will have to be respected. I don't know what the result will be – no one does."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/11/pep-guardiola-referendum-catalan-independence-barcelona-rally

The Irish Times: 'Catalonia announces October 1st date for independence referendum'

A Catalonia independence supporter holds up a Catalan Estelada flag, with the date for the proposed independence referendum, in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday. Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters

The nationalist government of Catalonia has announced that the referendum on independence from Spain it wants to hold will take place on October 1st, despite staunch opposition to the plan in Madrid.

The Catalan premier, Carles Puigdemont, unveiled the date of the slated vote at the regional government palace in Barcelona on Friday morning, flanked by fellow pro-independence politicians.

He also announced the referendum question: "Do you want Catalonia to be an independent state in the form of a republic?"

The announcement is not a surprise. For months, Mr Puigdemont had been pledging to hold a Yes/No referendum on independence from Spain by early October. However, the enormous uncertainty surrounding the northeastern region remains, given the central government's insistence that the vote cannot take place because it is unconstitutional.

"It's not one person's refusal, it's the refusal of an entire political system," Mr Puigdemont said, adding that the Spanish state "has shown itself to be utterly unwilling to be involved in resolving a real, deep problem".

Last month, the Catalan premier issued what appeared to be a final offer to Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy to discuss the terms of a negotiated, Scotland-style referendum. But Mr Rajoy described the plan as "a serious threat to coexistence and constitutional order".

Ground for secession

The Catalan government has been preparing the legal ground for secession over recent months in the regional parliament. Media reports have suggested that if the referendum were thwarted, Mr Puigdemont's administration would declare independence anyway, a claim his government has dismissed.

Catalonia's President Carles Puigdemont announces the referendum at the Palau de la Generalitat, Barcelona. Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters

On Thursday, ahead of Mr Puigdemont's statement, deputy prime minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría said: "They can announce that they are going to hold this referendum as many times as they like and postpone it as many weeks as they like and organise as many events as they like, but that referendum is not going to take place."

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/catalonia-announces-october-1st-date-for-independence-referendum-1.3113600

France Info: 'La Catalogne organisera un référendum sur son indépendance le 1er octobre'

Le président indépendantiste de la Catalogne, Carles Puigdemont, a annoncé vendredi 9 juin qu'il organisera le 1er octobre un référendum sur l'indépendance de sa région du nord-est de l'Espagne. La question posée aux Catalans sera : "Voulez-vous que la Catalogne soit un Etat indépendant sous forme de République ?"

Interdit par le gouvernement espagnol ?

Le président indépendantiste catalan n'a cependant pas encore signé le décret de convocation de la consultation, interdite par la Cour constitutionnelle, et qui mettra en délicatesse avec la loi toutes les personnes qui participeront à son organisation.

Mariano Rajoy, le chef du gouvernement conservateur espagnol, a toujours assuré que cette consultation n'aurait pas lieu. Madrid considère qu'un référendum en Catalogne enfreindrait la souveraineté espagnole garantie par la Constitution de 1978. Et l'Etat a le pouvoir d'intervenir directement dans la gouvernance de la région, jusqu'à pouvoir la contraindre d'abandonner l'idée d'un référendum.

Les Catalans divisés sur l'indépendance

En 2014, la région avait bravé une première interdiction et organisé une consultation symbolique des Catalans. Sur six millions d'électeurs potentiels, 2,3 millions de personnes avaient participé et huit sur dix s'étaient prononcées pour la sécession.

Dans la région la plus riche d'Espagne, le mouvement indépendantiste semble s'essouffler depuis que le pays a renoué avec la croissance économique. Les derniers sondages montrent que 48,5% des Catalans interrogés s'opposent à une sécession, contre 44,3% qui se prononcent en faveur de l'indépendance. Mais ils souhaiteraient majoritairement (à 73,6%) pouvoir se prononcer par référendum.

http://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/espagne/referendum-en-catalogne/espagne-la-catalogne-organisera-un-referendum-sur-son-independance-le-1er-octobre_2229237.htm

La Repubblica: 'La Catalogna sfida Madrid: referendum per l'indipendenza il primo ottobre'

L'annuncio da parte del presidente catalano Carles Puigdemont. Secca la replica del governo spagnolo: "Referendum illegale, non si farà. Ogni eventuale passaggio all'azione sarà perseguito dal governo"

Ma è secca la replica del governo spagnolo, tramite le parole del portavoce Inigo Mendez de Vigo: "Il primo ottobre non si celebrerà un referendum illegale che va contro la Costituzione", ha detto dopo la riunione del consiglio dei ministri.

Le accuse catalane. "In attuazione del mandato democratico, oggi abbiamo avuto un Consiglio esecutivo straordinario per ratificare la decisione di tenere il referendum come esercizio del legittimo diritto all'autodeterminazione di una nazione" ha dichiarato Puigdemont, che ha accusato il governo di Madrid di non aver risposto alle offerte di negoziato da parte della Catalogna. Il 24 maggio ha inviato una lettera al primo ministro Mariano Rajoy, invitandolo ad avviare un dialogo sui termini del referendum, ignorata però dal premier.

Il presidente ha fatto risalire l'aggravamento del conflitto con la Spagna alla sentenza della Corte costituzionale di Madrid di sette anni fa, che aveva bocciato lo "Statuto catalano" votato dai parlamenti di Madrid e Barcellona e approvato con un referendum dalla popolazione catalana. Da allora, ha detto, "tutte le nostre proposte sono state respinte" e da Madrid è giunta "una lunga serie di no".

La risposta di Madrid. Per il portavoce dell'esecutivo, Mendez de Vigo, quella del presidente catalano è "una strategia che non porta da alcuna parte, l'ennesimo annuncio di un annuncio". Non è stato precisato come il governo di Madrid conta di impedire lo svolgimento del referendum, quando sarà formalmente convocato con un decreto del presidente catalano. Per ora, ha affermato de Vigo, non è stato firmato ancora un decreto di convocazione che possa essere impugnato davanti alla Corte costituzionale.

"Che nessuno dubiti che ogni eventuale passaggio all'azione sarà perseguito dal governo", ha aggiunto de Vigo, che ha bollato l'annuncio del leader catalano come una "messa in scena", da cui emerge che i separatisti "sono sempre meno numerosi" e che "hanno fallito in tutti i loro tentativi di trovare nuovi alleati".

Tre dei quattro principali partiti spagnoli, Pp, Psoe e Ciudadanos, sono contrari alla tenuta di un referendum in Catalogna, e ad una riforma della Costituzione in questo senso, appoggiata solo da Podemos. Il Pp del premier Rajoy può bloccare qualsiasi modifica della Costituzione, grazie alla maggioranza assoluta nel Senato. Secondo un sondaggio, il 44,3% dei catalani sono per l'indipendenza e il 48,5% contro. Ma una grande maggioranza - più del 73% - vuole comunque potersi pronunciare.

Indipendentismo catalano. Il governo spagnolo guidato da Rajoy ha sempre assicurato che il referendum non sarà consentito in quanto non previsto dalla Costituzione. "Fino a quando sarò Presidente del governo, questo referendum non si farà", ha ribadito il 27 maggio durante una visita in Catalogna.

A marzo la regione separatista ha approvato un progetto di bilancio che prevede l'assegnazione di 5,8 milioni di euro destinati alle attività preparatorie del referendum. Un iter avviato anche nel 2014, quando fu indetto un voto popolare sull'indipendenza, dichiarato però incostituzionale dal governo. In quell'occasione, le urne furono aperte ugualmente per un super-sondaggio: l'80% dei catalani votò a favore.

Il referendum costò un processo per disobbedienza all'allora governatore della regione nord-orientale della penisola iberica, Artur Mas. Il 6 febbraio 2017, giorno dell'inizio del processo, migliaia di sostenitori della secessione catalana protestarono fuori dalla sede della Corte d'appello di Barcellona. A marzo, Mas venne condannato a due anni di interdizione dai pubblici uffici.

http://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2017/06/09/news/la_catalogna_sfida_madrid_referendum_per_l_indipendenza_il_primo_ottobre-167651634/

Euronews: 'Catalonia announces independence referendum'

The regional government of Catalonia has called a referendum on a split from Spain on 1 October.
　
The decision sets up a renewed confrontation with Madrid, which maintains such a vote is illegal and against the constitution.　

Is this the first time this has happened?　
　
No. Pro-independence campaigners staged a symbolic ballot on splitting from Spain in 2014, months after Scotland voted to stay in the UK.
　
Around two million people voted in favour of seceding in Catalonia in the ballot, which was non-binging.
　
Previous secessionist challenges in Catalonia were blocked by Spain's conservative government, which appealed to the Constitutional Court.　

Is there still a lot of support for independence in Catalonia?
　
No as much. The pro-independence movement has lost support since Spain returned to economic growth. The last poll showed that 44.3 percent backed a split from Spain, while 48.5 want to continue with the status quo.
　
However, polls show a majority of Catalans do want to hold a referendum on the question of independence.　

What will happen now?　
　
There are likely to be more legal wranglings. Sources say it could culminate in regional elections in Catalonia if plans to hold the vote are quashed.
　
Under Article 155 of Spain's constitution, Madrid has the power to intervene directly in the running of Catalonia's regional government. It can force it to drop the vote and obey the law.
　
This could involve sending in the police or suspending the regional government's ruling authority in the industrial region. This is widely seen as a last resort.　

Tell me more about Catalonia　
　
The populous and wealthy region accounts for around a fifth of Spain's economic output. It has its own language and capital, Barcelona.
　
Like Spain's other 16 autonomous regions, Catalans already have power over health and education spending. The region says the central government takes much more than it gives back under Spain's complicated system of budget transfers.
　
This feeling contributed to a surge of pro-independence fervour during Spain's worst years of recession at the beginning of this decade.

http://www.euronews.com/2017/06/09/catalonia-announces-independence-referendum

　

Le Monde: 'Le président du la Catalogne annonce un référendum pour le 1er octobre'

C'est un pas de plus vers la sécession de la Catalogne, selon Barcelone ; une nouvelle provocation, pour Madrid. Après une réunion exceptionnelle de l'ensemble des ministres catalans, le président du gouvernement régional, Carles Puigdemont, a annoncé vendredi 9 juin la date du référendum d'autodétermination unilatéral qu'il entend convoquer officiellement, malgré l'opposition ferme du gouvernement conservateur de Mariano Rajoy. Ce sera le dimanche 1er octobre 2017.

M. Puigdemont a également annoncé quelle serait la question posée lors du référendum : « Voulez-vous que la Catalogne soit un Etat indépendant sous la forme d'une république ? » Et d'insister sur le fait que « la réponse sera un mandat que ce gouvernement s'engage à appliquer ».

« Ils peuvent annoncer ce référendum autant de fois qu'ils veulent et le repousser autant de semaines qu'ils le désirent et convoquer autant de manifestations qu'ils souhaitent, ce référendum ne va pas se tenir », avait déjà tranché, mercredi, la vice-présidente du gouvernement, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria. Et de préciser que la position de Madrid « n'est pas de faire des annonces mais d'agir ». « Et quand il faudra agir, nous le ferons », a-t-elle martelé.

Pour Madrid, une nouvelle opération de propagande

Pour le gouvernement, l'annonce de la date du référendum est une nouvelle opération de propagande. Or il se veut prudent dans sa réponse afin de ne pas fournir de nouvelles munitions aux indépendantistes, prompts à accuser le Parti populaire (PP, droite, au pouvoir) de manquer de culture démocratique. Il n'envisage d'agir contre le référendum qu'une fois que des décisions concrètes seront prises, en particulier lorsque le décret de convocation sera signé et publié. Pour cela, Madrid peut compter sur deux armes : la réforme du Tribunal constitutionnel approuvée en 2015, qui lui permet de relever des élus de leurs fonctions en cas de désobéissance par une procédure urgente ; et l'article 155 de la Constitution, qui lui donne la capacité de suspendre l'autonomie catalane et de prendre les rênes de la région.

Malgré les multiples recours auprès de la Cour constitutionnelle et les menaces d'intervention de l'Etat, semaine après semaine, Barcelone fait montre de sa volonté de ne pas reculer. Le Parlement catalan doit approuver dans les prochains jours de manière définitive une réforme du règlement qui lui permettra d'approuver la loi de transition juridique, dite « loi de rupture », en moins de quarante-huit heures. Celle-ci est actuellement en cours d'élaboration, en secret, par la majorité indépendantiste. En mai, la commande d'urnes a déjà été publiée au Bulletin officiel catalan.

Manifestation prévue dimanche

Pour raviver la flamme indépendantiste, une grande manifestation est organisée à Barcelone dimanche 11 juin par l'association indépendantiste Assemblée nationale catalane (ANC), durant laquelle l'ancien entraîneur de l'équipe de football FC Barcelone, Pep Guardiola, sera chargé de lire un manifeste.

Car le mouvement semble s'essouffler, selon les derniers sondages du Centre d'étude d'opinion catalan : 46,8 % des Catalans sont opposés à l'indépendance et 45,3 % y sont favorables. Même parmi les séparatistes convaincus, le scepticisme l'emporterait, selon un sondage Metroscopia publié par le quotidien El Pais à la fin de mai. Ainsi, 62 % des Catalans et 85 % des autres citoyens espagnols considèrent que l'indépendance de la Catalogne a « très peu ou aucune chance de devenir une réalité ». Seuls 34 % des Catalans la voient possible à court terme, alors qu'en 2014 ils étaient 43 %.

Néanmoins aucune solution politique permettant de résoudre le conflit ouvert entre Madrid et Barcelone et de sortir de l'impasse actuelle n'est en vue. Pour Barcelone, le référendum n'est pas négociable. « Nous ne renoncerons jamais à notre droit à décider, a affirmé M. Puigdemont lors d'une conférence à Madrid, à la fin de mai. L'engagement est inviolable. Il y aura un référendum, et ensuite nous ferons une autre offre à l'Etat, mais ce sera alors pour négocier les conditions de notre départ. »

« Une mobilisation légitime »

Or au Parlement espagnol, le Parti populaire n'est pas le seul à s'opposer fermement à la tenue d'un référendum d'autodétermination, arguant que la Constitution garantit l'unité de l'Espagne et que, s'il était organisé, un référendum de ce type devrait impliquer la participation de tous les citoyens du pays. La position du Parti socialiste ouvrier espagnol (PSOE) et des centristes de Ciudadanos est identique.

Plus ambiguë, la formation de la gauche radicale Podemos défend un référendum, mais accordé avec Madrid, avec toutes les garanties légales. « Un référendum unilatéral est une mobilisation légitime, mais ce que nous défendons, en Catalogne comme en Espagne, c'est la possibilité d'exercer le droit de décider et, pour cela, il faut un référendum légal, reconnu internationalement et qui a des effets juridiques », a déclaré son chef de file, Pablo Iglesias.

Celui que propose le gouvernement catalan a tout l'air, pour le moment, d'une réédition du référendum consultatif illégal de novembre 2014. La différence étant que Madrid est cette fois prête à bloquer, par tous les moyens, la tenue du référendum. Et que dans ce cas le numéro deux du gouvernement catalan, Oriol Junqueras, a laissé entendre qu'une déclaration unilatérale d'indépendance serait prononcée. L'escalade rhétorique ne fait sans doute que commencer.

http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2017/06/09/le-president-du-gouvernement-de-catalogne-annonce-un-referendum-pour-le-1er-octobre_5141188_3214.html

Rai TV: 'La Catalogna in piazza per l’indipendenza' #italia #europa #politica

Centinaia di migliaia di persone hanno partecipato alle marce per l'indipendenza organizzate a Barcellona e in altre quattro città catalane Tweet 11 SETTEMBRE 2016 Catalogna in piazza nel giorno della Diada, la festa per l'indipendenza da Madrid. Alle manifestazioni c'erano il presidente catalano secessionista, Carles Puigdemont, la presidente del Parlamento, Carme Forcaldell e il sindaco di Barcellona Ada Colau.  Poco prima dell'inizio dei 5 cortei simultanei - a Barcellona, Tarragona, Salt, Berga e Lleida - Puigdemont ha auspicato che questa sia l'ultima Diada prima "del passaggio dalla post-autonomia alla pre-indipendenza". Il Parlamento catalano, sfidando il veto della Corte costituzionale spagnola, ha varato in marzo il processo di indipendenza che dovrebbe terminare con l'approvazione delle tre leggi costituenti della futura "Repubblica di Catalogna" nel luglio 2017. 

Il governo di Madrid del premier uscente Mariano Rajoy si oppone però duramente alle spinte secessionistiche di Barcellona, che considera anti-costituzionali. Puigdemont ha detto che a fine settembre farà una proposta a Madrid per la convocazione di un referendum sull'indipendenza. Una ipotesi che finora il governo spagnolo ha sempre scartato. Il presidente catalano ha detto anche che prevede di convocare elezioni costituenti della nuova repubblica prima della Diada 2017. 

http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/media/Barcellona-centinaia-migliaia-di-persone-in-piazza-per-l-ndipendenza-6ed9801c-b1bf-489c-8d57-c8926630a269.html

The New York Times: 'Catalan Separatists Rally in Barcelona to Support Secession' #USA #politics #news

Hundreds of thousands of separatist-minded Catalans rallied in Barcelona on Sunday to show their support for breaking away from Spain, leaving the country without its powerful and prosperous northeastern region. Barcelona police estimated on their Twitter account that about 540,000 people attended the rally in support of a legally-binding referendum that would achieve an independent Catalonia.

Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont said that he plans to propose a government-approved binding independence referendum to secede from Spain by next year. Spain, which opposes secession, argues that an independent Catalonia would be ejected from the European Union and left out from using the euro currency.

Catalonia held a non-binding vote in 2014, when around 1.6 million people voted in favor of independence. Most of the region's 5.4 million eligible voters didn't participate after Spain's Constitutional Court ordered the suspension of the ballot. In June, a Catalan judge recommended former regional president Artur Mas stand trial for staging the vote and ignoring the suspension. Mas claims the vote was carried out by volunteers.

Catalan National Day has long been used to mobilize the masses in support of secession from Spain.

Polls show most Catalans support a referendum on independence, but are roughly divided over splitting from Spain. Catalonia shares cultural traits with the rest of Spain, but many Catalans feel their customs, especially their language, set them aside from the rest of Spain. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, his conservative Popular Party and two more of Spain's main political parties oppose a Catalonian state. Only the far-left Podemos supports allowing Catalonia to hold an independence referendum. The economically-powerful Catalonia has a thriving population of 7.5 million and accounts for 18 percent of Spain's economic output.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/09/11/world/europe/ap-eu-spain-catalonia-independence.html?_r=0

Le Monde: 'Plusieurs centaines de milliers de manifestants en Catalogne pour l’indépendance' #France #Catalogne #politics

Des centaines de milliers de Catalans sont descendus dans les rues, dimanche 11 septembre, pour réclamer la sécession avec l'Espagne et pousser les partis àsurmonter leurs désaccords sur la voie à suivre vers l'indépendance.

« Il faut aller jusqu'au bout. Nous ne pouvons plus attendre », a déclaré Xavier Borras, un employé de bureau de 58 ans, parmi les manifestants qui ont envahi un boulevard de Barcelone proche du parlement régional, où les élus séparatistes préparent la sécession de cette région de 7,5 millions d'habitants du nord-est de l'Espagne.

Le projet, qui devrait aboutir à la mi-2017, avance moins vite que prévu en raison des divisions entre les partis séparatistes. C'est pourtant le moment de « prendre des décisions cruciales », a déclaré le président de la région, Carles Puigdemont, devant la presse étrangère avant le début des manifestations.

Au moins 540 000 personnes à Barcelone

L'impatience était perceptible aussi chez les manifestants, souvent drapés dans la bannière rouge, jaune et bleue des indépendantistes, qui depuis cinq ans célèbrent en masse cette « Diada » du 11 septembre, journée « nationale » de cette région fière de sa langue et de sa culture. « Nous espérons que cette Diada sera la dernière avant l'indépendance », a déclaré Carmen Santos, une fonctionnaire de 58 ans à Barcelone, où la police a compté 540 000 manifestants.

D'autres rassemblements ont attiré 135 000 personnes à Salt, dans le nord de la Catalogne, 60 000 à Berga, dans le centre, 45 000 à Tarragone, dans le sud, et entre 25 000 et 30 000 à Lleida, dans l'est. Dans cette dernière, les cloches de la cathédrale ont sonné à 17 h 14 – référence au 11 septembre 1714, quand Barcelone est tombée aux mains des troupes royales après un long siège, et la Catalogne a perdu son autonomie.

La participation totale de 805 000 personnes était cependant inférieure au 1,4 million recensé par les autorités de Barcelone l'année dernière. Les dirigeants indépendantistes catalans ont tenté, sans succès pendant des années, d'arracher l'accord de Madrid pour tenir un référendum d'autodétermination, comme celui de l'Ecosse qui s'est prononcée en 2014 pour le maintien dans le Royaume-Uni.

Ils ont changé de tactique quand ils ont conquis la majorité absolue au Parlement régional en septembre 2015 et opté pour la sécession. Ils entendent mettre sur pied l'administration d'un futur Etat indépendant, adopter les lois pour se détacherde l'Espagne et convoquer des « élections constituantes » pour rédiger la future constitution catalane.

Mais le plan a déraillé en juin quand le gouvernement de coalition, dirigé par Carles Puigdemont, a perdu l'appui du petit parti anticapitaliste CUP, le plus radical des indépendantistes, et sa majorité au Parlement.

La présidente du Parlement catalan poursuivie

Puigdemont et la CUP ont rapproché leurs positions ces dernières semaines. Laformation radicale s'est engagée à le soutenir lorsqu'il posera la question de confiance le 28 septembre mais exige l'organisation d'un référendum en 2017 pourproclamer l'indépendance immédiatement après, un projet très différent de celui des autres séparatistes.

Divisé, le mouvement pourrait recevoir une nouvelle impulsion si, comme tout le porte à croire, la justice espagnole poursuit au pénal la présidente du Parlement catalan, Carme Forcadell, pour avoir permis l'adoption de la « feuille de route »séparatiste malgré les avertissements du Tribunal constitutionnel.

La populaire maire de Barcelone, Ada Colau, qui reste volontairement ambiguë sur la question de l'indépendance, s'est jointe aux manifestants à Barcelone, de même que des dirigeants du parti de gauche radicale Podemos. Podemos est le seul parti national espagnol à accepter un référendum d'autodétermination tout en se prononçant contre l'indépendance.

Ada Colau a dénoncé « l'immobilisme chronique » du gouvernement sortant de Mariano Rajoy à Madrid, qui s'est refusé à toute concession pour apaiser la fièvre indépendantiste en Catalogne. Et aucun changement rapide n'est à attendre vu l'incapacité des partis nationaux à former un nouveau gouvernement après deux élections législatives non concluantes.

http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2016/09/11/plusieurs-centaines-de-milliers-de-manifestants-en-catalogne-pour-l-independance_4995968_3214.html

La Tribune: "Catalogne : Madrid utilise l'arme financière pour faire céder les indépendantistes" #eu #usa #news #politics

 

Par Romaric Godin  

 Le président du gouvernement espagnol, Mariano Rajoy, veut faire céder la majorité indépendantiste catalane. (Crédits : reuters.com)Madrid a annoncé poser de "nouvelles conditions" à la Catalogne pour son accès à des fonds régionaux. Il s'agit d'une première tentative d'asphyxier le gouvernement local pour faire tomber la majorité indépendantiste.

L'Espagne sort l'arme financière contre la majorité parlementaire indépendantiste catalane. Ce week-end, le ministre espagnol du budget, Cristobal Montoro, a annoncé que la Catalogne devrait se soumettre à de « nouvelles conditions » pour avoir accès au Fonds de Liquidité des Autonomies (FLA). Pour la Catalogne, ce programme représente encore 3,03 milliards d'euros. Le FLA a été créé en 2012. Il s'agit de prêts consentis aux Communautés autonomes (régions) par l'Etat central pour éviter à ces dernières de lever des fonds sur les marchés.

Nouvelles conditions

Quelles seront ces nouvelles conditions ? Elles seront ouvertement politiques. Cristobal Montoro l'a clairement assumé. « Ces conditions prévoient des garanties pour que pas un euro n'aille vers des buts sécessionnistes », a indiqué le ministre. Le gouvernement catalan devra donc, pour toucher ces fonds, donner l'assurance qu'ils seront utilisés pour le fonctionnement des services publics et « nullement pour violer la constitution. » Cette décision « s'explique clairement par les circonstances politiques que connaît la Catalogne », a indiqué le ministre du Budget.

Mise sous tutelle de la Catalogne

Concrètement, ceci signifiera que le Trésor espagnol versera les fonds du FLA chaque mois après avoir obtenu le feu vers d'un contrôleur du gouvernement qui se sera assuré auprès du gouvernement catalan, la Generalitat, de la « validité » des dépenses engagées. Autrement dit, l'autonomie financière de la Catalogne est en partie réduite. Et cette décision pose un grave problème au gouvernement de Barcelone si ce dernier décide d'appliquer la résolution du parlement votée le 9 novembre dernier et ouvrant la voie à un processus de séparation avec l'Espagne. Cette résolution - qui a été suspendue le 11 novembre par le Tribunal constitutionnel espagnol - prévoit en effet la création de « structures d'Etat. » Si ces structures sont effectivement créées, Madrid pourrait en prendre prétexte pour suspendre les versements du FLA, ce qui placerait le gouvernement catalan en grande difficulté financière.

Asphyxie financière

Déjà, le secrétaire général du département catalan de l'Economie, Albert Carreras, a indiqué que ces nouvelles règles étaient « extrêmement confuses. » « Nous ne savons pas ce que nous pourrons payer et quand nous pourrons payer », a-t-il ajouté. C'est sans doute ce que cherche Madrid. Le gouvernement espagnol tente de saper les bases du soutien aux indépendantistes catalans en provoquant des retards de paiements et des dysfonctionnements dans les services publics. Cette mesure est aussi clairement un premier pas avant l'utilisation de l'article 155 de la Constitution qui permet de suspendre l'autonomie régionale. Mais le gouvernement espagnol hésite à utiliser cet article qui obligerait à prendre des mesures d'ordre public difficile à mettre en œuvre. Il préfère donc contourner la difficulté en asphyxiant financièrement le gouvernement catalan. En réalité, cette mesure est une forme d'article 155 financier. Il est bien plus efficace : nul besoin d'envoyer la garde civile au risque de provoquer une résistance des Catalans, il suffit de tenir les cordons de la Bourse.

La zizanie au sein du camp indépendantiste se poursuit

Face à une telle stratégie, le gouvernement catalan semble désarmé pour l'instant. Et la première raison en est qu'il n'est qu'un gouvernement de transition qui ne dispose pas du soutien du parlement. L'actuel président de la Generalitat, Artur Mas, a, par deux fois, échoué à être élu en raison de l'opposition du parti de gauche radicale indépendantiste, la CUP. Les discussions se poursuivent, mais aucune issue ne se profile. S'il n'y a pas de président élu le 10 janvier, il faudra procéder à de nouvelles élections en mars. En attendant, il est impossible pour un gouvernement en sursis d'appliquer la résolution indépendantiste. Cette division et les menaces de Madrid font peser un risque notable sur le score des sécessionnistes en cas de nouvelles élections.

Pressions financières

Les indépendantistes sont, de plus, désormais, sous plusieurs pressions économiques. Certaines associations d'entreprises ont signalé des départs de sociétés de la région par crainte de la sécession. Des chiffres qui sont cependant à prendre avec précaution, pour le moment. Vendredi 20 novembre, un think tank anti-indépendantiste, le Cercle d'Economia, a demandé aux politiques catalans de ne pas appliquer la résolution du 9 novembre. Plus grave sans doute, l'agence de notation Fitch a dégradé la note de la Catalogne au statut d'obligation « pourrie » (« junk bond ») en raison du risque indépendantiste. En réalité, Fitch semble surtout effrayé par l'influence de la CUP. Mais cette décision peut gêner l'accès de la Catalogne aux marchés.

Quelle réponse de la Catalogne ?

Ces menaces et pressions visent à interrompre rapidement le processus indépendantistes. Mais si les indépendantistes parviennent à s'entendre et décident d'appliquer leur résolution, alors ils s'estimeront en droit de placer « leurs » lois, celles votées par le parlement régional, avant les décisions de Madrid (ce sont les points 6 et 8 de la résolution). Dans le cas où la Catalogne est asphyxiée financièrement, elle pourrait être tentée de « réquisitionner » et de « nationaliser » l'administration fiscale pour faire cesser tout transfert vers Madrid.

Selon les indépendantistes, la Catalogne est une des régions d'Europe qui accuse un « déficit fiscal » (différence entre les impôts versés et les sommes reversées par l'Etat central) le plus élevé. Une telle réponse serait un acte fort de séparatisme et placerait l'Etat espagnol dans une situation difficile. Mais ce serait aussi l'entrée dans un territoire inconnu, car il n'est pas sûr que les fonctionnaires acceptent ce changement et que la police catalane fasse respecter les décisions du parlement catalan plutôt que ceux de Madrid. Dans ce cas, par ailleurs, l'usage de l'article 155 apparaîtrait comme inévitable. Plus que jamais donc, le fossé se creuse lentement, mais toujours un peu plus entre Barcelone et Madrid.

 http://www.latribune.fr/economie/union-europeenne/catalogne-madrid-utilise-l-arme-financiere-pour-faire-ceder-les-independantistes-524839.html

Yahoo News: 'Spanish govt vows to block Catalonia independence effort' #usa #eu #politics #news

The Spanish government pledged Friday to take immediate legal action against the regional parliament of Catalonia if the Barcelona-based body approves a proposal to formally start an attempt to break away from the rest of Spain.

Catalonia's parliament has agreed to put the secessionist parties' proposal to a vote Monday, setting itself up for a confrontation with the national government in Madrid, which deems the move a violation of the Spanish Constitution.

Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said the government will seek the opinion of the Council of State and then call a special Cabinet meeting to announce it is seeking a Constitutional Court ruling.

The separatism proposal was drawn up by the "Together for Yes" pro-independence alliance and the radical leftist CUP party, which between them have 72 seats in Catalonia's 135-member regional parliament following an election in September. The two are in talks to form a new regional government but disagree strongly over who should be president.

Acting regional president Artur Mas has pledged Catalan independence within 18 months if he is chosen as regional president but the CUP has vowed not to support him. The parliament has until Jan. 9 to form a government or call a new election.

Catalonia, a region of 7.5 million people in northeast Spain, is responsible for nearly a fifth of Spain's economic output and is proud of its own culture and language.

Pro-independence sentiment began to swell four years ago at the height of Spain's economic crisis as secessionists claimed Catalonia could do better on its own.

Most polls show Catalans would like a secession referendum but are evenly divided over independence.

http://news.yahoo.com/spanish-govt-vows-block-catalonia-independence-effort-152954089.html

Observador: 'Movimentos da Catalunha dão primeiro passo rumo à independência' #Portugal #Brasil #Politica

Os movimentos independentistas que venceram as eleições regionais de há um mês chegaram a acordo sobre texto que vão apresentar no Parlamento da Catalunha para dar início ao processo de independência.
Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty Images

Nuno André Martins | Observador

As formações independentistas do Parlamento da Catalunha chegaram esta manhã hoje a acordo sobre o texto da resolução que querem entregar no Parlamento para dar início ao processo de independência da região.

Segundo o jornal espanhol El País, o Junts pel Sí e o CUP, que ganharam as eleições regionais há cerca de um mês, pretendem dar início ao processo de criação de um Estado catalão independente, que, acrescentam, terá a forma de República.

Os movimentos dizem ainda que não se sujeitarão às decisões do Estado espanhol, em particular do Tribunal Constitucional, uma entidade que consideram não ter legitimidade para interferir nas decisões da Catalunha. O documento deverá ser votado na próxima semana.

Os dois movimentos consideram que a maioria conseguida nas últimas eleições dá legitimidade à corrente independentista, mas querem negociar também com a União Europeia.

http://observador.pt/2015/10/27/movimentos-da-catalunha-dao-primeiro-passo-rumo-a-independencia/

Sat 1: 'Separatisten Kataloniens leiten Unabhängigkeits-Prozess ein' #Deustchland #EU #Politik

DER NEUE STAAT SOLL EINE REPUBLIK SEIN

Separatisten Kataloniens leiten Unabhängigkeits-Prozess ein

Die Separatisten in Katalonien führen ihren umstrittenen Plan einer Abspaltung der Region von Spanien fort. Ein Resolutionsentwurf soll dem Regionalparlament schon in den nächsten Tagen zur Abstimmung vorgelegt werden. Ministerpräsident Rajoy versucht einen Konter.

Die separatistischen Parteien Kataloniens haben genau einen Monat nach der regionalen Parlamentswahl ihren umstrittenen Plan einer Trennung von Spanien konkretisiert. Die Allianz Junts pel Sí (Gemeinsam fürs Ja) von Regierungschef Artur Mas und die Linkspartei CUP einigten sich am Dienstag in Barcelona auf einen Resolutionsentwurf zur Gründung eines "unabhängigen Staates".

Im Entwurf heißt es, man habe bei der vorgezogenen Wahl am 27. September "ein demokratisches Mandat" für die Abspaltung von Spanien erhalten. Der Unabhängigkeitsprozess werde sich "den Entscheidungen der Institutionen des spanischen Staates, insbesondere des Verfassungsgerichts, nicht unterordnen". Der neue Staat werde eine Republik sein, heißt es weiter.

Rajoy kontert Mas

Nach der Veröffentlichung des Resolutionsentwurfs berief der Chef der Madrider Zentralregierung, Mariano Rajoy, umgehend eine Pressekonferenz ein. Er wies die Aktion der katalanischen Regierung als "Provokation" zurück und versicherte, die Separatisten würden ihr Ziel auf keinen Fall erreichen. "Der Staat wird nicht auf die Anwendung aller politischen und juristischen Mittel verzichten", warnte der konservative Ministerpräsident, der sich am 20. Dezember der landesweiten Parlamentswahl stellen muss.

Der Resolutionsentwurf soll dem Parlament in Barcelona schon in den nächsten Tagen zur Abstimmung vorgelegt werden. Die Separatisten hatten bei der vorgezogenen Wahl zusammen die absolute Mehrheit der Sitze errungen, die Mehrheit der Wählerstimmen aber verfehlt.

Katalonien mit eigener Sprache und Kultur

Mas hatte den als historisch eingestuften Urnengang ausdrücklich als Volksabstimmung über die Unabhängigkeit der wirtschaftsstärksten Region Spaniens angesetzt. Er kündigte nach der Abstimmung an, an seinem Vorhaben festzuhalten, Katalonien in 18 Monaten in einen unabhängigen Staat zu verwandeln.

Die Zentralregierung hatte wiederholt betont, dass sie eine Trennung Kataloniens unter keinen Umständen zulassen werde. Vor gut einem Jahr hatte Madrid die Abhaltung eines echten Referendums über die Unabhängigkeit der Region verhindert.

Katalonien hat 7,6 Millionen Einwohner und verfügt über eine eigene Sprache und Kultur. In der Autonomen Gemeinschaft wird rund ein Fünftel des gesamten Bruttoinlandsprodukts Spaniens erwirtschaftet.

http://www.sat1.de/news/politik/separatisten-kataloniens-leiten-unabhaengigkeits-prozess-ein-100964

La Stampa: "La Catalogna accelera verso l’indipendenza” #Politica #EU #UE #Italia

La Catalogna accelera verso l'indipendenza: "Iniziato il processo per una nostra repubblica". Mozione del parlamento di Barcellona: «Non saranno rispettate decisioni della giustizia spagnola». Il premier rajoy convoca una conferenza stampa: «Non lo permetteremo»

REUTERS | FRANCESCO OLIVO | BARCELLONA

Precipita la situazione in Catalogna. Il nuovo parlamento di Barcellona, appena uscito dalle urne, si appresta a votare una risoluzione molto esplicita, nella qualesi dichiara iniziato il processo di creazione della repubblica catalana indipendente. Una mozione breve, solo due fogli, nella quale viene spiegato che non saranno rispettate eventuali decisioni della giustizia spagnola, in particolar modo del tribunale costituzionale «organo ormai delegittimato». È la rottura formalizzata con il regno di Spagna, niente che non fosse stato dichiarato in campagna elettorale, certo, ma leggerlo su un documento ufficiale fa scalpore.  

RAJOY: "SOLO UNA PROVOCAZIONE"  

La proposta è stata sottoscritta da Junts pel sì e Cup, i due gruppi che rappresentato la maggioranza assoluta al parlamento catalano, ovvio quindi che nei prossimi giorni sarà approvata senza problemi dall'aula. Non è un atto qualunque, tanto che dopo appena un'ora e mezza il primo ministro spagnoloMariano Rajoy convoca i giornalisti per una dichiarazione urgente: «Quella di oggi è una provocazione. Lo Stato utilizzerà tutti gli strumenti a disposizioneper impedire che i propositi di questa mozione vengano realizzati». Tra gli strumenti ce n'è uno estremo e inedito: la sospensione dell'autonomia, previsto dalla costituzione, ma mai attuato nella storia della democrazia. Il 20 dicembre ci saranno le elezioni politiche ed è ovvio che Rajoy e il suo Partito Popolare si giocano tutto in questa sfida con gli indipendentisti catalani.  

COSA SUCCEDE ADESSO  

Il governo prima di reagire formalmente dovrà aspettare che il parlamento catalano, approvi la mozione presentata oggi. E' un passo scontato, vista la maggioranza assoluta delle forze secessioniste, così l'esecutivo ha già pronte le contromosse. La prima sarà il ricorso al tribunale costituzionale contro la legge catalana che istituisce l'inizio del processo indipendentista. I catalani hanno già scritto nero su bianco che non riconosceranno le sentenze dell'alta corte spagnola, così le strade sono due: sospendere l'autonomia della Catalogna(articolo 55 della costituzione) o colpire direttamente il presidente (provvisorio) Artur Mas, in base a una nuova legge appena votata dal Partito Popolare. In entrambe i casi lo scenario si fa drammatico. Da un punto di vista politico c'è da sottolineare che queste schermaglie giuridiche hanno una scadenza: il 20 dicembre, data delle elezioni politiche spagnole. Con un nuovo governo la vicenda potrebbe cambiare in un senso o in un altro: con un esecutivo di sinistra, si riaprirebbe il dialogo tra Madrid e Barcellona, con una conferma della destra, lo scontro si andrebbe a radicalizzare.  

http://www.lastampa.it/2015/10/27/esteri/la-catalogna-accelera-verso-lindipendenza-iniziato-il-processo-per-una-nostra-repubblica-vI6PePzd4IwcimRj1Cx4KO/pagina.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

CTV News: 'Pro-secession Catalan parties file parliament motion to break from Spain' #Canada #News #Politics

People wave 'estelada' or pro-independence flags as regional acting President Artur Mas arrives at the Catalonia's high court in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015. (AP/Emilio Morenatti)


Ciaran Giles, The Associated Press

Two parties holding a majority of seats in Catalonia's new regional parliament on Tuesday presented a motion for the chamber to announce the formal start of secession from Spain and the formation of a new republican state of Catalonia.

The proposition was presented by the "Together for Yes" pro-independence alliance that won 62 seats in Catalonia's 135-member parliament in September elections, along with the radical leftist CUP party, which won 10 seats.

The parties called for the Barcelona-based parliament to vote on the motion urgently but it is unlikely to have more than symbolic importance as the region has yet to form a new government.

No date was set for the vote.

The motion calls on parliament to pass laws within 30 days that would allow the region push ahead toward a separate constitution, social security system and treasury.

It also says the process would not be subject to decisions made by the Spanish institutions, including the constitutional Court.

Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala said such a motion would lack legal significance but, if approved, the government will study whether it needs to be challenged in court.

The "Together for Yes" alliance is headed by acting regional President Artur Mas, who after failing to get a majority is now in negotiations with the CUP to try to form a new government. The CUP, however, has said it will never support Mas as president, making the formation of a new government a difficult task.

Mas has promised to set Catalonia on a path toward independence by 2017 if he gets a majority.

Although the pro-independence camp won 72 seats, it got only 48 per cent of the popular vote. This is because Spain's electoral system gives more seats to votes from rural areas, where secession sentiment is strong in Catalonia. Most of the remaining parties are strongly opposed to independence.

Spain has ruled out any possibility of Catalonia becoming independent, saying it goes against the country's constitution.

Polls show Catalans overwhelmingly support the right for a secession referendum but are evenly divided over independence.

The region of 7.5 million people is responsible for nearly a fifth of Spain's economic output.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/pro-secession-catalan-parties-file-parliament-motion-to-break-from-spain-1.2629513#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=twitter&_gsc=gqXbFCN