Why is Catalonia separating from Spain?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

Catalonia separates from Spain! News about this became once again popular. Large-scale rallies and voting are held. But why is Catalonia separating from Spain, and what is it for?

November setbacks

In November 2014, the Congress of Deputies of Spain decided to refuse to hold a referendum on independence in Catalonia. According to the law of the kingdom, a vote on the separation of any of the regions must be held throughout the country. At the same time, such a strict and complex procedure practically does not make it possible to implement it.

Exactly one year later, on November 9, the Parliament of the Autonomous Region of Catalonia adopted a resolution that formulated the main goal - "gaining independence from Madrid." The whole world started talking about Catalonia separating from Spain. Is this true?

An action plan was developed to separate Catalonia from Spain by 2017. Residents need to form a government and adopt a new Constitution, after which their land will become officially free. However, in the elections in Catalonia, the majority of the inhabitants, striving for autonomy, spoke in favor ofunited Spain.

Immediately after that, the Council of Ministers of Spain filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court, which, in turn, recognized the resolution of the autonomous republic as invalid. Once again, attempts by the Catalans to secede from the Kingdom of Spain were unsuccessful. The Constitutional Court of the country annulled the resolution adopted on November 9, 2015. But nevertheless, the government of Catalonia announced that it would continue to take all measures to achieve the intended goal. Why does Catalonia want to secede from Spain?

How it all began

The people of Catalonia have long sought to preserve their independence, national uniqueness and cultural identity. But as a result of numerous bloody wars, he failed to protect his own freedom. Catalonia has been separating from Spain for more than three centuries. Why is this happening?

The history of Catalonia dates back to 988. Count Borrell II announced the freedom of his own lands from the French invaders and proclaimed his land the County of Barcelona.

In 1137, the county of Barcelona was united with the kingdom of Aragon. Catalonia significantly increases in size, establishing its power in the territory of present-day Italy, Andorra, France (southern part) and Valencia. To date, the native language of the inhabitants of the autonomous region of Valencia in Spain differs little from Catalan, and some residents of this region consider themselvesthe Catalans. At the same time, the population of Valencia does not want to acquire sovereignty.

Loss of sovereignty

The first loss of independence of Catalonia occurred as a result of the war of 1701-1714 between the heirs of the Spanish throne, Philip V and Charles VI of Habsburg. The victory of the first ended in the loss of the sovereignty of the feudal lords, who staked on the Habsburgs. The National Day of Catalonia, which is widely celebrated in the region these years, is timed to coincide with this date.

From this stage, the long struggle of the Catalans for independence began. Repeatedly trying to gain sovereignty, the republic suffered many acts of intense and violent "Spanishization". This is one of the reasons why Catalonia wants to secede from Spain.

Spanish Civil War

The most successful chance of gaining independence was the civil war in 1871, which ended with the overthrow of the monarchy in Spain. Catalonia was recognized as an autonomy. The struggle against Franco turned into persecution for the native Catalans. Many were forced to leave their homeland, fearing execution. Having once again lost the status of autonomy, Catalonia managed to return it only by 1979 thanks to the terrorist organization Terra Liura.

XXI century. Declaration of Sovereignty

In 2006, as a result of negotiations between the Parliament of Catalonia and the government of Spain, the autonomous region was granted additional rights. Basically they concern the economic part. But this measure did not help to extinguish separatist sentiments among the Catalans,but only had the opposite effect.

In 2013, the people of Catalonia achieved a lot. They have their own nationality, celebrate their own holidays at the state level. Unlike the rest of Spain, bullfighting is prohibited in the lands of Catalonia due to cruelty to animals. They don't dance flamenco here. Catalan is recognized as the official language, and all the locals deliberately prefer it to Spanish. Another unique fact is that the Catalans have their own Internet domain, which is not found in any region or autonomy within any country.

The 2013 Catalan Declaration of Sovereignty only sparked a new wave of nationalist movements. And the economic crisis, which aggravated the financial situation of the Catalans, gave impetus to industrialization. To date, this province is the most developed in Spain. Despite the fact that the population of Catalonia is only 1/7 of the entire population of Spain, a little less than 50 percent of the entire industry of the kingdom is located on its territory. The tourism business is widely developed, providing Spain's GDP by 1/5.

Reasonable is the unwillingness of the Catalans to share with the unemployed Spaniards during the economic downturn. This is the main reason why Catalonia wants to secede from Spain.

Leave can't stay

There is one incredibly significant factor that makes the Catalans vote for unity with Spain. This is EU membership. awesomein this way, it allows Spain to feel a little more confident in this struggle for independence.

Disconnection from Madrid threatens Barcelona with loss of ties with Brussels. This will automatically remove Catalonia from the EU, which will negatively affect all economic indicators in the region. And even if Madrid, which previously did not recognize either Palestine, or Kosovo, or Abkhazia, or Crimea, still recognizes Catalonia as a separate independent state, it will take a long time until new contracts are concluded and old agreements are signed. The resources spent on negotiating, resolving all legal issues and processing the necessary contracts will adversely affect the state of the economy and the financial well-being of every citizen of Catalonia.

Radical separatists do not attach due importance to this fact, calling for sovereignty. Holding rallies, processions and various campaigning, the nationalists were preparing for the referendum on November 9.

You can, but you can't

Officially, the Spanish government allows the local authorities of Catalonia to consider and adopt a new resolution on sovereignty, but after its adoption and another vote of the inhabitants, it appeals to the court, which cancels this decision. Catalonia is not deprived of the constitutional right to hold a plebiscite and further separation, but they are not allowed to use them to the end. It also causes a wave of discontent among the residents and encourages them to fight.

Another trybecome a separate state ended unsuccessfully. And it is worth paying attention to the fact that in the last referendum held, 70% of the inhabitants of Catalonia voted "NO", thereby wishing to remain part of Spain. But a party was elected to the parliament of the autonomy, the political course of which is aimed at secession and independence. This means that the process will not stop, and in the near future, perhaps, we will witness the birth of a new state. Whether Catalonia will separate from Spain, no one can say for 100%. But time will tell.