Catalonia independence crisis
Catalonia's drive for independence has plunged Spain into its biggest political crisis for 40 years. It's a complicated dispute, so let's break it down.
Why the controversy?
For many years Catalan nationalists have complained that their region sends too much money to poorer parts of Spain.
In a referendum on 1 October, about 90% of Catalan voters had backed independence. There were clashes when Spanish national police tried to prevent people voting.
The Catalan parliament then voted for independence on 27 October.
The Spanish government has suspended Catalonia’s autonomy and imposed direct rule after the region’s unilateral declaration of independence following a referendum declared illegal by central government. This is Spain’s biggest political crisis for 40 years.
Catalonia's controversial independence vote has triggered Spain’s worst constitutional crisis in more than 40 years.
Despite the 1 October referendum being ruled illegal by Spain's constitutional court, and despite police attempts to stop it happening, Catalans voted overwhelmingly in favour of splitting from Spain.
The Catalan parliament ratified the result on 27 October. In response, the Spanish government dissolved the parliament, sacked the Catalan leaders and called a snap election for 21 December.
Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont fled to Brussels. A Belgian judge has yet to decide whether to execute an EU arrest warrant which would see Mr Puigdemont extradited to Spain to face charges of rebellion and sedition.
"Madrid is robbing us" is a popular secessionist slogan, and the received wisdom is that comparatively wealthy Catalonia pays in more than it gets out of the Spanish state. Separatists think Catalonia would be more prosperous as an independent nation. They also see independence as a way to preserve the Catalan culture, history, identity, and language.
There is a clear majority of Catalans that want independence. In the 1 October referendum, 90% voted to split from Spain. The pro-independence camp argues that it would be undemocratic to deny Catalans their right to self-determination.
Catalans have a distinct identity with their own language, history and flag. Their culture survived the brutal dictatorship of Francisco Franco, who from 1936 to his death in 1975, set out to destroy the Catalan culture. Secessionists say their culture is not sufficiently respected by the Spanish government.
Catalans are forced to contribute 17 billion euros to the Spanish government, which has pushed the region into debt. Only through independence will Barcelona be able to take control of its finances and economic future. Pro-independence activists say there is no reason why Catalonia could not remain in the EU.
Unionists are worried by the uncertainty over Catalonia’s relationship with Europe. If declared independent, Catalonia would need to reapply to become an EU member - which would require agreement from member states, including Spain. Unionists say the labour market is already difficult and are concerned that independence could mean greater unemployment and economic instability.
Catalonia’s independence crisis is fuelling fears of a fragmented EU.
Nationalists in Scotland, Flanders, Bavaria and elsewhere are also clamouring for independence. Amid mounting populist nationalism across the EU, Catalonia’s push to break away from Spain could create dangerous potential for conflict elsewhere.
As an independent state, Catalonia’s economy would be throw into chaos while it re-applies for membership of the European Union. The region is also 42 billion euros in debt, meaning it may also need to apply to the EU’s bail-out mechanism. If Catalonia refuses to support less prosperous regions of Spain, many question why Europe should help Catalonia to save its banks or pension funds?
Catalans are proud of their distinct culture but they also have much in common with Spain. Critics argue that isolated monoculturalism would dull Catalonia’s creative edge.
There has been a resounding silence to the Catalonia crisis in the corridors of Brussels.
One explanation is the fact the EU is a club of nation states that fears splintering into tiny statelets. “I do not want a situation where, tomorrow, the European Union is made up of 95 different states,” said Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the European commission. “We already have enough splits and fractures.”
It was no accident that the sacked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont turned up in Brussels, “asking for Europe to react” to Spain’s imposition of direct rule on Catalonia and call for fresh elections.
However his plea for European action has been greeted with resounding silence in the corridors of Brussels and other EU capitals. The EU lacks any legal mechanism to get involved, senior officials say.
Colouring the Brussels view is the fact the EU is a club of nation states that fears splintering into tiny statelets. “I do not want a situation where, tomorrow, the European Union is made up of 95 different states,” said Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the European commission. “We already have enough splits and fractures.” Under the Lisbon treaty, the EU will respect “essential state functions, including ensuring the territorial integrity of the state”. Allowing Catalonia to enter the EU on the back of a hasty, illegal referendum would set a precedent for other regions, such as Flanders, Corsica or South Tyrol.