So, as the economic maelstrom rumbles on in Europe the latest issue to crop up is Spain's old favourite, Catalonia. Over the past month or so calls for an independent Catalan state have gotten louder and louder as Spain's economic situation bleakens. First, some background. Catalonia is a Spanish autonomous community in the north-east of the Iberian peninsular. The area served as a heartland of Republican activity during the Spanish Civil War and, during Franco's dictatorship, the Catalan people were heavily repressed. Following Franco's death and the adoption of the democratic constitution, Catalonia and other "autonomous communities" received significant levels of devolved power from Madrid and cultural and social identity was largely restored, with the separate Catalan identity fully forged. The post-2008 economic crisis, however, has driven a wedge between Barcelona and Madrid. Spain is a debt-ridden nation with a struggling economy and a staggering unemployment rate of over 25%. Autonomous regions have been blamed, at least in part, for contributing to the crisis with lavish spending; 6 of the 17 regions required a $23 billion bailout from the already-struggling central government, including Catalonia to the tune of around $6 billion. However, Catalans argue that about a tenth of their economic output is taken by Madrid and not reinvested into Catalonia. Catalonia is the wealthiest region of Spain and many there feel that they are unfairly subsidizing the rest of the country - about $12 billion a year is diverted towards Madrid while public services in Catalonia (devolved to the government in Barcelona) are struggling. They also believe that widespread budget cuts and tax hikes by the Madrid government are doing nothing to help people affected by the crisis. In 2010 the centre-right, Catalan-nationalist party Convergence and Union (Ci U) returned to power in Catalonia and Artur Mas assumed the Presidency. On 20 September the Spanish government rejected the Ci U's proposed fiscal pact that would see the Catalan government take greater control over its $260 billion economy. This was just nine days after 1.5m people took to the streets of Barcelona in a nationalist rally; this was followed by loud calls for independence in the latest El Classico. Many Catalan nationalists feel that over the years Madrid has opposed and even tried to reverse regional autonomy guaranteed in the 1978 constitution. In June a poll put support for independence at around 51%, a record high. President Mas has now called for snap elections on 25 November. Should his party receive a majority vote, he has threatened to hold a referendum on independence soon after. The Spanish government considers this to be illegal under the Spanish constitution, which says that only the central government can hold referendums and that Spain is indivisible. Some uncomfortable calls have been made to use the Spanish military to prevent an illegal referendum taking place. So, how do we think this is going to go down? Will Artur Mas call his referendum or will Madrid buckle and hand over further autonomy to Catalonia? How will the crisis effect other autonomous nationalities like the Basques? How will it effect other potential new nations around Europe?
That would be an oxymoron. The major problem is yet another political difference.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.