Adéu-siau, Catalunya?

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) Pro-independence parties in Catalonia won a regional vote, strengthening a drive for a referendum on secession in defiance of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Catalan President Artur Mas, who called early elections to force the debate on independence, won 50 of the 135 seats in the regional assembly for his Convergencia i Unio party, down from 62, with 99 percent of the vote counted. The separatist Catalan Republican Left, known as the ERC, more than doubled its seats to 21 from 10. Two smaller parties that also back a plebiscite secured 16 seats.

Rajoy, weakened by recession and speculation that Spain needs a European bailout, says a referendum on secession is unconstitutional. Mas’s losses showed his bid for a mandate backfired, leaving him dependent on anti-austerity separatists to govern Spain’s largest regional economy.

“With a majority, Mas could have negotiated for all kinds of goodies to postpone the referendum but clearly that’s not an option anymore,” Ken Dubin, a political scientist at Carlos III University and IE business school in Madrid. “He was hoping he’d have a stronger hand to negotiate some intermediate status, but his bluff has been called.” .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-25/catalan-pro-independence-parties-win-exit-poll-shows.html

[Canuckistanian]

1. I wish them luck

Catalonia has always been distinct from mainstream Spain, much in the same way that Scotland is now exploring.

Besides, as a region, Catalonians have complained for a long time about their share of revenue from the Spanish government.

And historically, Catalonia has been ruled by either France or Spain even though they've considered themselves distinct from either country, with their own dialect and customs.