Catalonia has its own cultural identity and a robust separatist movement, despite crackdowns from Madrid. Catalonia wants its independence for two main reasons: to preserve its culture and history; and because it is funding the Spanish economy. Catalonia was an independent region of the Iberian Peninsula – modern day Spain and Portugal – with its own language, laws and customs. This lasted until the reign of King Philip V. The War of the Spanish Succession ended with the defeat of Valencia in 1707, of Catalonia in 1714, and finally with the last of the islands in 1715 – resulting in the birth of modern-day Spain. Amy Willis Sunday 1 Oct 2017 5:24 pm. Calls for complete independence grew steadily until July 2010, when the Constitutional Court in Madrid overruled part of the 2006 autonomy statute, stating that there is no legal basis for recognising Catalonia as a nation within Spain. Catalan independence vote: When is the referendum, why does Catalonia want to break from Spain and what will happen next? The Spanish national government is currently embroiled in a row with Catalonia over its calls for independence. ... Where is Catalonia and why do residents want independence from Spain? The Catalan authorities went through with the vote, leading to violence inside and around polling stations as Spanish security forces seized ballot boxes and attempted to close down the vote. Why does Catalonia want independence from Spain? But why does the region want to break away from the rest of Spain? 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The president of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, is backed by a coalition of Catalan nationalist forces from the conservative CDC and the leftist Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) parties, which, together with the radical Left-wing CUP party, command a majority in the region’s parliament. The conservative Popular Party of Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister, is only the fifth-largest party in Catalonia, and is strongly opposed to any moves for independence for the region. Royal rift: Will William and Harry’s relationship ever be repaired? Why Catalans Want Independence From Spain by Federico Demaria If anyone thinks, says or writes that the Catalan question is easy to understand, I would … We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. October 7, 2017 October 7, 2017 Ali Mohamed 652 Views 0 Comments. Around 30 years of institutionalized indoctrination. Or are all those calls for independence just an irresistibly satisfying way of annoying Madrid? Why does Catalonia want independence? In terms of getting under the skin of Spain’s central government, the illegal referendum on independence held on 1 October 2017 was a huge success. And the footballing rivalry between Barcelona and Madrid is the stuff of legend – with "El Clásico", played biannually between the two teams, a huge event for both cities. But Catalan pro-independence parties have long been pushing for complete independence from the Spanish state. Barcelona, Spain – In an historic decision, the Spanish region of Catalonia has voted for independence. im Mexican American so i can kind of make a connection between how mexico and other latin american countries got their independence from spain...is it the same with catalonia? History. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. Standard Spanish, also known as Castilian, is spoken in the rest of Spain. Today Catalonia has its own parliament and executive and enjoys extensive autonomy. Much to the anger of Madrid, the Catalan regional government passed a law this week to hold a referendum on independence. Where is Catalonia and why does it want independence from Spain? what did the spanish do to the catalans? Why is there a Catalan crisis? The Catalans have celebrated and recorded their own distinctive heritage for 1,000 years. Its GDP per capita would be $35,000, which would make it wealthier than South Korea, Israel or Italy. No habrá referéndum de autodeterminación. The independence movement, led by the regional president, Carles Puigdemont, argues that Catalonia has a In other words, they are able to collect and regulate and redistribute their own tax, without waiting for Madrid to transfer funds back to them. Catalonia was an independent region of the Iberian Peninsula – modern day Spain and Portugal – with its own language, laws and customs. Its thriving manufacturing, food-processing, metalworking and chemical industries, along with a growing service sector, make it Spain’s economic powerhouse. Spain's national government says that the Catalan independence vote is illegal , as the country's constitution doesn't allow for self determination. Catalonia’s distinct history goes back to the early Middle Ages, with many Catalans considering themselves as a separate nation from the rest of Spain. In 2014 an informal vote found that 80 percent of those living in the region were in favour of independence for Catalonia. They are deeply proud of their food and their chefs, such as Ferran Adriá, from El Bulli, and Jordi Cruz, who won his first Michelin star at the age of 25 – the youngest Spaniard to ever do so. Secession would therefore cost Spain almost 20 per cent of its economic output, and trigger a row about how Catalonia would return 52.5 billion euros of debt it owes to the country’s central administration. Organisers said 90% of … Although the essence of Democracy is people using their right to vote, this does not happen in Spain nowadays. Catalonia's pro-independence leaders then went ahead with a full referendum on 1 October 2017, which was also declared illegal by Spain's constitutional court. This article was originally published on 22 October 2014, weeks before Catalonia held their first vote for independence, where 80.8% of voters said they wanted Catalonia to be an independent state. The region is home to Barcelona, a vibrant economic and cultural hub as well as a popular tourist destination. Catalonia will hold a vote on whether to seek independence on November 9. The region was granted a degree of autonomy once more in 1977, when democracy returned to the country. Britons living in Spain faced with post-Brexit reality, Closures on Iberian peninsula making life tough for cross-border workers, Mount Etna’s show, a Victorian house relocated in San Francisco, new photos from Mars | In pictures. Decidir lo que es nuestro país y su futuro es un derecho de todos los españoles #CMinpic.twitter.com/MM7q6zQY3d. The economic crisis in Spain has only served to magnify calls for Catalan independence – as the wealthy Barcelona region is seen as propping up the poorer rest of Spain. Subsequent kings tried to impose Castilian Spanish and laws on the region, but gave up in 1931 and restored the national Catalan government, known as Generalitat. Close. However, some tension has been caused by the rising influence of Castilian in capital of Catalonia, Barcelona. sorry for the ignorance i wanted to know why the people of catalonia want independence from spain? As for the reasons why, I can give you three broad ones. Catalonia has a history dating right back to the early middle ages. Do you know Switzerland? Why does Catalonia want independence from Spain? It would have a gross domestic product of $314 billion (£195bn), according to calculations by the OECD, which would make it the 34th largest economy in the world. But why does the region want to break away from the rest of Spain? Spain’s economic crisis has fueled calls for independence, with many Catalans believing the affluent region props up poorer areas. Why Catalonia wants independence from Spain; German gay couples to tie knot after decades of struggle; Speedy blazes through his exams, but what does it … It's not just in politics, economics and language that Catalans see themselves as different. Spain has declared Catalonia’s planned independence referendum illegal and vowed to stop it happening. General Francisco Franco, however, set out to destroy Catalan separatism and with his victory at the Battle of Ebro in 1938 he took control of the region, killing 3,500 people and forcing many more into exile. In Switzerland they have 4 languages and 4 distinct linguistic regions: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Catalonia considered a nation ( but not independent from Spain). Today this feeling is manifested in Catalonia’s pride in its language and identity – not to mention the fierce rivalry between football teams FC Barcelona and Madrid in the El Clasico. Madrid, however, has a higher per capita GDP, as do the Basque Country and Navarre regions. Spanish region in crisis after referendum CATALONIA'S separatist government has declared independence from Spain … They have more capacity to legislate than most states in a federal country. The independence movement wants to make a state of Catalonia so the Catalans can administer their taxes and have total control on their laws. Share this article via facebook Share this article via twitter Share this article via messenger. Pro-independence Catalan MPs nevertheless voted on 27 October 2017 to unilaterally declare independence from Spain in a session boycotted by dozens of opposition MPs. But why does Catalonia want independence? Catalonia and the rest of Spain are also divided linguistically between Catalan and Castilian. The gap between what Catalans pay in taxes and what they get back in services is around €8bn-10bn a year, something that got worse following the recession and the austerity measures implemented in the wake of the crisis of 2008-2009. Unlike the case of Scotland (where they were able to vote and the “No Independence” won) the case of Catalonia shows a democracy of low quality in Spain that clashes with the Catalan wish for more democracy. In September 2017, this majority approved the holding of a binding referendum on independence for Catalonia, but Spain’s constitutional court suspended the process. This year the Catalan regional government stated its intention to hold a ballot on independence on 1 October, which has been described as illegal by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. With this we hope to inform you, the reader and allow you to draw your own conclusions as to to why much of Catalonia seeks independence. And Catalonia's contribution to the Spanish economy is twice that of Scotland’s to the UK. In 1150, the marriage of Petronilia, Queen of Aragon and Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona formed a dynasty leaving their son to inherit all territories concerning the region of Aragon and Catalonia. Located in Spain’s far-eastern corner, Catalonia is separated by the Pyrenean mountains from southern France, with which it holds close historical ties. Which raises the question for many readers: Why does Catalonia want to leave Spain in the first place? Why does Catalonia want independence from Spain? Where is Catalonia and why does it want independence from Spain? Catalan Government officially calls referendum for October 1 https://t.co/xLmtEhalBn#IndyRef#CatalanIndyRef#1Oct#1Oct2017#Cataloniapic.twitter.com/AuqIS8PKsw. They said that 2.26 million votes had been counted, with 90 per cent in favour of independence. In fact, secession would cost Spain nearly 20 percent of its economic output. Until the birth of modern-day Spain in 1715, Catalonia was an independent region in the Iberian Peninsula – now Spain and Portugal – with its own identity, laws and customs. Why does Catalonia want independence from Spain? Catalonia is one of Spain’s most populous and richest regions. The Catalan independence movement (Catalan: independentisme català; Spanish: independentismo catalán) is a social and political movement with roots in Catalan nationalism, which seeks the independence of Catalonia from Spain, along with some in the movement supporting the independence of North Catalonia from France and that of other Catalan Countries. being a fan of fc barcelona this subject came to my interest also … Subsequent kings tried to impose the Spanish language and laws on the region, but they abandoned their attempts in 1931 and restored the Generalitat (the national Catalan government). Normally, there is one or two centers for trade in a given country. The answer is in its past, ... Spain or Catalonia: How did we get here? Why do many Catalans want to secede from Spain? The independence movement currently has supporters and detractors from all political spectrum, which in Catalonia is from center right to far left. Nearly 2.2 million Catalans voted in the October 1 referendum to decide whether Catalonia wanted independence, but Spanish leaders continue to block momentum. Mr Puigdemont says the result is a mandate for a unilateral declaration of independence, although he says he would prefer to negotiate the terms of secession from Spain with the government in Madrid. But why do they want to be separate from Spain? Catalan, spoken in Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands, as well as the French region of Rousillon, is close to regional languages in southern France. El Celler de Can Roca was named the world's best restaurant for 2013, and is third this year. While a majority of Catalans don’t see independence as the ideal way forward, Madrid’s unwillingness to negotiate could still result in a secessionist victory in the knife-edge referendum.. Here’s how national sentiment, language, place of birth and more play a part in determining support for independence, and what Spain could wave goodbye to if Catalonia does break away. 7 reasons why Spain doesn’t want Catalonia independence October 2, 2017 By Andrew Moran Leave a Comment The Spanish government will do everything it can to prevent Catalonia successfully seceding. Nearly all Catalans are bilingual, yet most other Spaniards do not learn Catalan. Spain’s return to democracy brought devolution for Catalonia, along with other regions. Why Spain’s wealthiest region wants independence. The result of the Catalan … Catalonia in the north-west of Spain is home to 7.5million residents and the country's second city, Barcelona. Catalonia is one of Spain’s richest and most industrialised regions. But deep down, does Catalonia really want that? Catalan politicians said the non-binding vote should pave the way for a formal referendum, sparking outrage from the central government in Madrid. Why does Catalonia want its independence? From 1939 the Franco regime tried to suppress Catalan identity until the dictator’s death in 1975. In this article, based on a section from the book Outstanding Catalan Contributions, we look at what makes Catalonia different from the rest of Spain and why that is significant. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/does-catalonia-want-independence-spain That would make it bigger than Portugal or Hong Kong. Catalonia in the north-west of Spain is home to 7.5million residents and the country's second city, Barcelona. Aisling Moloney Tuesday 3 Oct 2017 2:55 pm. Last week Spanish police detained more than a dozen Catalan … People gather at a pro-independence for Catalonia rally in Barcelona's Catalunya Square Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images By Harriet Alexander 6:54PM BST 22 Oct 2014 History Catalonia was an independent region of the… Catalonian independence would also trigger a row over how to split Spain’s deficit. Normally, this is the capital city, or a city near the capital city- except, not with Spain. What next for Prince Harry and Meghan after the Oprah interview? Catalan and Castilian are both official languages in Spain, with Catalan actively encouraged in education, official use and the media. Autonomous tax collections. Anti-independence demonstrators during a protest in Barcelona on 4 October 2017, Coronavirus latest news: EU asks US for Oxford vaccine doses, Exclusive: Charity Commission reviewing Harry and Meghan's Sussex Royal organisation, The secret messages in Prince Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview. The Catalan region has long been the industrial heartland of Spain – first for its maritime power and trade in goods such as textiles, but recently for finance, services and hi-tech companies. This content is not available in your region. It is one of the wealthiest regions of Spain - it accounts for 19 per cent of Spain’s GDP, equal with the Madrid region. The history of Catalonia.