Catalans holding Catalan independentist flags
(Estelada) gather on Passeig de Gracia during celebrations of Catalonia
National Day (Diada) in Barcelona on September 11, 2014. (AFP Photo / Josep
Lago)
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Hundreds
of thousands of Catalans have flooded the streets of Barcelona in the region’s
national day to demand the right to vote on independence from Spain. The
demonstrators have formed a big V in red and yellow, symbolizing “vote”, RT
reports.
People
who wanted to make their voices heard, were wearing red and yellow, the
traditional Catalonian colors during La Diada, the Catalan National Day. Almost
half a million Catalans have signed up to form a "V
for vote," a show of support for the right to decide
on their independence from Spain.
"It
would be the people's triumph if we were allowed to vote. If we live in a
democracy we should be allowed to vote,"
Montserrat, a 58-year-old homemaker, told Reuters.
Local
leaders believe that the region is politically, economically and socially
better on its own.
“We
think that we could administer our own resources. We could do it better with
much more proximity to the people and also we would have a better chance of
meeting our needs,” Alfred Bosch, a Spanish MP from the
Catalonia Republican left party told RT.
“So
especially in times of crisis when we feel the pinch of the economy and people
are really feeling a pinch of this crisis,” he added.
Catalans hold Catalan independentist flags
(Estelada) during celebrations of Catalonia National Day (Diada) in Barcelona
on September 11, 2014. (AFP Photo / Lluis Gene)
|
On
Wednesday, Artur Mas, first minister of the relatively prosperous region in
Spain's northeast, said that it was "practically
impossible" to stop Catalonia from voting.
"If
the Catalan population wants to vote on its future, it's practically impossible
to stop that forever," Mas told AFP.
Spanish
authorities, however, are opposing the independence referendum, saying that the
referendum is illegal since the Constitution does not provide such an option
initiated by a region, and needs to be blocked.
"I
think it's absurd to pretend that could be so and I think the Spanish
government will have to realize that," Mas said.
The
vote is expected to be held November 9.
Catalans
are not the only one who want independence. Scotland is also holding an independence
referendum on September 18. The UK government in London opposes independence,
calling on Scots to stay in the UK. However, it has said that it will respect
the decision of the voters.
Spain’s
right-wing government in Madrid, however, has insisted that Catalonia’s planned
referendum in invalid.
"We
want to decide our future. We don't understand why that is constantly denied.
We look up to Scotland," Victor Panyella, a
50-year-old professor from Catalonia who was standing in the demonstration,
told Reuters.
"They
are so lucky to belong to a country that allows that kind of vote. That is a
big difference between the two of us, but we are linked by the excitement of
deciding our future,” he added.
Xavier
Trias, the mayor of Barcelona, wrote in an article in The Guardian that if
Catalonia becomes independent, “it will be a new kind
of state: European, open for trade, cosmopolitan and welcoming and protective
of its many diverse inhabitants.”
“This
is not old-fashioned ‘nationalism,’ but a new vision of dynamic autonomy, in
which a nation and its capital are able to take the right decisions for
themselves: democracy on a human scale,” he added.
According
to Barcelona’s mayor, to oppose the decision of the region to become independent
“is wrong and divisive.”
Trias
added: “We must all evolve, to respond to a
changing world but above all to meet the needs of people for economic security
and prosperity and the democratic right to govern themselves as they – the
people – see fit. Barcelona and Catalonia exemplify this approach.”
The
Catalan independence movement has grown from strength to strength over the last
few years, gathering momentum against the backdrop of the EU financial crisis.
The autonomous region of Catalonia has a population of 7.5 million and accounts
for almost one-quarter of Spain’s GDP.
There
has been growing resentment in Catalonia that their taxes are being
redistributing to other parts of the country and 45 percent of Catalans believe
the region would be better off on its own, according to an April poll.
Catalonia
has its own language and culture. It was ranked the 64th largest country
subdivision by GDP (nominal). Its light industry and heavy industry totals 37
percent, compared to Spain's 29 percent. Its service sector is almost 60percent
while the whole Spain has 67 percent. Many banks are based in the region, 10 of
the 46 Spanish savings banks have headquarters there.
Catalonia
is not the only region of Spain campaigning for independence. The
long-rebellious Basque Country has also called for a referendum to decide on
their future in Spain. In late May, Basque lawmakers adopted a declaration of
self-determination to follow on the footsteps of Catalonia. Last month, at least
100,000 Basque citizens formed a human chain measuring 123 kilometers in
solidarity with the Basque independence movement.
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