Firstpost
  • Home
  • Video Shows
    Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
  • World
    US News
  • Explainers
  • News
    India Opinion Cricket Tech Entertainment Sports Health Photostories
  • Asia Cup 2025
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
Trending:
  • PM Modi in Manipur
  • Charlie Kirk killer
  • Sushila Karki
  • IND vs PAK
  • India-US ties
  • New human organ
  • Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Movie Review
fp-logo
Catalan independence hopes high in symbolic vote on split from Spain
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
  • Home
  • World
  • Catalan independence hopes high in symbolic vote on split from Spain

Catalan independence hopes high in symbolic vote on split from Spain

FP Archives • November 9, 2014, 22:00:44 IST
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of Catalans voted on Sunday in a symbolic referendum on independence from Spain that supporters hope will propel the issue further despite opposition from Madrid. The “consultation of citizens” in the wealthy northeastern region follows a legal block by the central government against a more formal, albeit still non-binding ballot which regional leaders had been pushing for.

Advertisement
Subscribe Join Us
Add as a preferred source on Google
Prefer
Firstpost
On
Google
Catalan independence hopes high in symbolic vote on split from Spain

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of Catalans voted on Sunday in a symbolic referendum on independence from Spain that supporters hope will propel the issue further despite opposition from Madrid.

The “consultation of citizens” in the wealthy northeastern region follows a legal block by the central government against a more formal, albeit still non-binding ballot which regional leaders had been pushing for.

“We have earned the right to a referendum,” said Artur Mas, head of the regional government, as he cast his ballot surrounded by cheering supporters.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

“We are doing a great thing in Catalonia by defending our right to free expression and steering the political future of this country,” he said.

However, the head of Spain’s ruling party in Catalonia, Alicia Sanchez-Camacho said the vote was a sham because it offered no democratic or legal guarantees and did not have the blessing of the central government.

More from World
US & China reach framework agreement for TikTok US & China reach framework agreement for TikTok ‘Bullying, economic coercion’: China slams Trump pressure on Europe for 100% tariff over Russian oil ‘Bullying, economic coercion’: China slams Trump pressure on Europe for 100% tariff over Russian oil

The ballot comes after two years of escalating tension between the central and the regional government over the issue. The government argues that Catalonia, which makes up about 16 percent of Spain’s population, cannot decide something which affects Spain as a whole on constitutional grounds.

Polls show that Catalans overwhelmingly support holding a proper referendum, regardless of their views on sovereignty.

The regional government said that at 1200 GMT, more than 1 million of the 5.4 million people eligible to vote had done so.

“If they don’t understand us, they should respect us and each of us go on their separate way,” said Angels Costa, a 52-year-old shopkeeper who voted in Barcelona.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts
‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

“We would have liked to have been a federal state but that is no longer possible. They’ve trampled on us too much.”

TENSIONS SIMMER

Pro-independence organisations have campaigned vigorously for a big turnout from the wealthy region’s 7.5 million people, and more than 40,000 volunteers were helping set up informal voting stations on Sunday.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Pro-secession politicians hope a high level of support will prompt central government to sit down with them and negotiate more tax and political autonomy, or even convince Madrid to accept a full-blown independence referendum in the future.

Officials from Catalonia’s two main parties, including Mas’ centre-right Convergencia i Union (CiU), have suggested that backing from more than 1.5 million citizens would help build momentum for their cause.

The vote has raised hackles in a country in which the memory of Francisco Franco’s 1939 to 1975 dictatorship and the suppression of the Catalan and Basque cultures are still vivid.

Centralist party Union, Progress and Democracy has called for charges to be pressed against Artur Mas for purportedly ignoring an order to suspend the vote, although the vote is being run by grassroots campaigners.

“The ideal scenario is the more people the better,” Oriol Junqueras, head of left-wing opposition party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), said in an interview.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

“It’s clear that this consultation … does not give us the democratic mandate we would have in an election, but what’s important is that it is a fresh demonstration of the fact people want to vote, that they are keen to voice their opinion.”

However those who are not in favour of separation are not expected to take part.

One such is Roberto Ruiz, a 30 year old out jogging.

“No, I’m not voting. This will not make any difference and I’m against (independence) anyway. I’m Catalan but I’m Spanish too,” he said.

Opinion polls show that as many as 80 percent of Catalans back voting on the issue of Catalonia’s status, with about 50 percent in favour of full independence.

A long-standing breakaway movement in Catalonia, which accounts for one-fifth of Spain’s economic output and has its own distinct culture and language, grew in strength during the recent years of deep recession.

In early September – buoyed by a Scottish independence campaign which ultimately lost out in a referendum – hundreds of thousands of Catalans dressed in the yellow and red of their regional flag packed the streets of Barcelona, forming a huge “V” to demand the right to vote.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

Officially suspended by Spain’s Constitutional Court after the Spanish government sought to stop this poll, Sunday’s vote is nonetheless expected to pass off peacefully.

Analysts say the poll results should be viewed cautiously, because opponents are likely to shun it.

“While we expect the vote to have a symbolic impact (more than one million people will likely participate) it will not carry significant political implications,” Antonio Roldan, Europe analyst at the Eurasia Group consultancy said in a note.

(Writing by Sarah White and Elisabeth O’Leary; Editing by Anna Willard)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

Tags
facebook United States India Middle East markets Italy Latin America Mexico
End of Article
Written by FP Archives

see more

Latest News
Find us on YouTube
Subscribe
End of Article

Impact Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Erika Kirk delivered an emotional speech from her late husband's studio, addressing President Trump directly. She urged people to join a church and keep Charlie Kirk's mission alive, despite technical interruptions. Erika vowed to continue Charlie's campus tours and podcast, promising his mission will not end.

More Impact Shorts

Top Stories

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Top Shows

Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports

QUICK LINKS

  • Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
Latest News About Firstpost
Most Searched Categories
  • Web Stories
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • IPL 2025
NETWORK18 SITES
  • News18
  • Money Control
  • CNBC TV18
  • Forbes India
  • Advertise with us
  • Sitemap
Firstpost Logo

is on YouTube

Subscribe Now

Copyright @ 2024. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved

About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms Of Use
Home Video Shorts Live TV