Megaterio Llamas wrote: ↑Sat Feb 08, 2020 4:43 pm
isn't Catalonia trying to leave Spain these days?
Sort of.
In 2017 the Catalonian government arranged a referendum on independence, but Madrid declared it unconstitutional and used the Guardia Civil, a sort of cross between military and police, to shut down all polling places and arrest a bunch of people. They were also beating up people attempting to vote, including elderly ones... didn’t look good on camera.
Imho the Spanish government was completely tone deaf. First of all, polling had support for independence at less than 40%.
If Madrid had allowed it to happen, but stated that they would only respect a bid to leave if it was supported by a majority of
eligible voters, there is no way the independence side could win.
Secondly, the images of Guardia Civil beating up civilians peacefully attempting to cast a balott.... PR nightmare.
Anyone born in the 60’s or earlier remember how they brutally enforced Fransisco Franco’s fascist rule up till his death in 1975.
This was a throwback to that era, and I am sure there must be at least a few Catalans that opposed independence that suddenly had a change of heart when they saw this.
Thirdly, the Spanish courts overreacted too. About a dozen Catalan leaders have been sentenced to between 5 and 13 years of prison. I mean they didn’t kill anyone. They were a local government that organized a referendum. Sure, they were in violation of certain election laws, but Jeb Bush did not end up in prison for using the so-called butterfly ballot, that violated Florida’s election laws, in the 2000 presidential election that put his brother in the White House.
(Buchanan did extremely well in Palm Beach)
This latter thing has caused some friction between the EU and Spain, as two of in prison had been elected to the European Parliament, after their arrest but before the trial, and as EMPs they have immunity. A third Catalonian EMP, the former head of government in Catalonia, had fled to Brussels, and has been able to take hisseat in parliament. The Spanish have asked for his extradiction, but the EU has pointed out that he has immunity, and have instead demanded that Spain immediately releases the other two so they can take their seats in parliament. Acvording to the EU, their verdict is null and void as they were elected before the trial, and this never should have been tried in the first place.
It’s complicated.
I don’t think Catalonian independence will happen in the near future though.
I mean, then Barcelona would have to leave La Liga, and their would be no more classico against Real Madrid....
Oh, and to make things even more interesting, the recently elected socialist governmment in Spain is dependent on the votes of two minor Catalonian parties to maintain a majority... These parties have been suggesting a pardon for all Catalonian politicians in prison, and if the government refuses they could end up losing power.
As jubilant Brexit supporters gather to celebrate the U.K.’s departure from the European Union, Scotland is digging in to its position as the last bastion of political resistance.