Spain investigates Catalonia leader over independence vote

Spain investigates Catalonia leader over independence vote

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Catalonia’s high court said Monday it is going to open an investigation into the alleged disobedience of regional president Artur Mas for holding a symbolic independence referendum in November in defiance of Madrid’s opposition.

The non-binding vote took place on November 9 and saw 2 million out of a possible 5.4 million Catalans take part. Some 80 percent voted for independence.

Mas hailed the vote “a great success” but the Spanish government strongly opposed it, with Justice Minister Rafael Catala dismissing it as “a sterile and useless sham” in what amounted to “a day of political propaganda.”

The referendum was blocked by Spain’s Constitutional Court, but Mas pressed ahead anyway and used volunteers instead of government officials to marshal the event.

The legal case against Mas could eventually mean that he will be barred from running in the next regional elections, due in late 2016.

Alongside the investigation, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said he wants to open discussions with Catalonia to give the autonomous region some devolved powers on spending and taxation, which would mean reforming the constitution.

Letting people vote for things they don't like has always been dangerous.

Is Catalonia special to the Spaniards? Are they afraid the Basques will be given independence as well? If so, what's so useful about Basque country? Is there oil there?

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Originally Posted by Methmatician

Is Catalonia special to the Spaniards? Are they afraid the Basques will be given independence as well? If so, what's so useful about Basque country? Is there oil there?

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Basques contribute little to the % of the Spanish GDP, and can collect and regulate their own taxes. Catalan contribution means about 20% of the Spanish GDP, and can be fiscally exploited by the Spanish Government. So they'd actually prefer the Basques to leave. Because both letting Catalonia leave or granting Catalonia the same fiscal rights enjoyed by the Basques would mean a severe setback for the Spanish economy.

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Originally Posted by Comte Arnau

Basques contribute little to the % of the Spanish GDP, and can collect and regulate their own taxes. Catalan contribution means about 20% of the Spanish GDP, and can be fiscally exploited by the Spanish Government. So they'd actually prefer the Basques to leave. Because both letting Catalonia leave or granting Catalonia the same fiscal rights enjoyed by the Basques would mean a severe setback for the Spanish economy.

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Actually not. More people would be against Basque independence than against Catalonian one.

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Originally Posted by Empecinado

Actually not. More people would be against Basque independence than against Catalonian one.

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Given the strong anti-Catalan feeling in Spain, that would make sense from a social point of view. But I was rather talking from an institutional pragmatic/less emotional one.