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The Spanish government dissolved Catalonia’s parliament, ordered the region’s leaders to step down and set new legislative elections for Dec. 21 after lawmakers there declared an independent republic, setting up the potential for new clashes.
This is in the wake of the October 1st referendum in the Spanish province of Catalonia, which concerned a possible independence from the rest of the country and an establishment as a separate sovereign state. The referendum was called in response to calls for Catalan independence; the Catalan people have their own culture, language, and set of national values separate from the rest of the country. The region also is responsible for 15% of Spain's GDP, and also boasts the major European city of Barcelona. The referendum was expected to pass, but Spanish authorities seized control of the ballot boxes and cancelled the referendum.
The Spanish government has worked quickly to seize control in the country in what can only be described as reminiscent to the era of Francisco Franco, a dictator who ruled Spain from 1939 to 1975. This shutdown of autonomous power culminates in the most recent decision by the national government.
7 comments:
I think the Spanish government does have the legal ability to shut down Catalonia's parliament, because of article 155 of the Spanish constitution, which states (translated to English), "If a self-governing community does not fulfill the obligations imposed upon it by the Constitution or other laws, or acts in a way that is seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain, the government, after having lodged a complaint with the president of the self-governing community and failed to receive satisfaction therefore, may, following approval granted by the overall majority of the senate, take all measures necessary to compel the community to meet said obligations, or to protect the above mentioned general interest." I believe that the Spanish government does have a strong case that Catalonian independence is "seriously prejudicial to the general interest of Spain," and so can take whatever measures are deemed necessary to stop it. Even though many of those living in Catalonia are very different culturally, they still can be overrode by the Spanish government and so cannot legally vote to secede.
Jackson makes a good point about the legality of the Spanish government overriding Catalonia's parliament. I also think we should consider the cultural repercussions that the independence of Catalonia would cause. There are some in the Basque Country of Spain who want to become independent. If Catalonia secedes, will the Basque Country follow? I've read an article that says Basques are wary of independence after this crisis in Catalonia. The way that Catalonia approached trying to gain independence was not well thought out. Although 90 percent of voters agreed that the country should secede, less than 50 percent of the population voted. It's hard to capture what the people actually think if they aren't willing to vote on it. This vote may have been more divisive than helpful for the independence movement.
Both of you make good points. However, in my honest opinion, while Article 155 is a legal option the national government can take, such an article is immoral and a threat against the natural rights of a people to their sovereign state. As I said in the article, Catalonia (and the Basque Country, which should become a sovereign state as well) have their own culture, language, history, and set of values separate from the rest of Spain. Tori, you asked if the Basques would ask for their own referendum in the wake of this one, and I say let them-that's honestly a good thing. Why should Catalonia and the Basques answer to a federal government that doesn't even speak their language, simply because of a dynastic union that happened 600 years ago? If I can speak candidly, I thought we had answered this question of European statehood back in the 1800s-a people that speak the same language, share the same culture, have the same set of personal values, and all happen to occupy the same geographic space deserve their own self-autonomy. Multicultural empires in Europe have existed in the past-the Russian Empire, the Kalmar Union, the Ottoman Empire, to name a few. All of these empires died out in Europe-why? Because of the fact that there was no central culture or identity to rally behind. What we saw in the Ottoman Empire in the 1800s is what we're seeing now in Spain-when the ruling class is of one primary ethnicity controlling a multicultural empire of multiple disgruntled peoples. If Spain-that is to say, Castilian Spain-cannot let go of their regions who have a completely different background from them, then I fear that the whole state may fall apart entirely.
I agree with Tori that if Catalonia seceeds, then the Basques certainly will push harder for their own independence, which could lead to more violence similar to what occured from the 1990s to the early 2000s created by the Spanish separatist group ETA. While Catalonia may contain 15% of Spain’s GDP, I’m not sure if they could function as a fully independent country that must be able to defend its self, have its own court system and welfare policies. Establishing a new country isn’t always easy and are very easily corruptable even when it isn’t born out of war in an already sintable area (see South Sudan). While the language of Catalonia is different than Castillian Spanish, it is still relatively similar as opposed to the Basque language (which has been said to bear more similarities to the Georgian language than any romance languages). While I understand why Granger compares Spain to the Russian (or even Soviet) Empire and the Ottoman Empire, these empires expanded by conquering other regions, which is much different than Catalonia (which came under the same rule as Aragon).
Catalonia can't survive as an independent country. The European community doesn't want them to secede, and the only military they have is Lionel Messi. Additionally, Madrid can just toughen laws and restrictions on Catalonia as well as increase police enforcement to stop any potential uprising.
I would like to agree with Josh (and the Messi comment). Catalan does not have enough military power to survive on its own. It is very similar to the state California was in around a year ago. When Trump became President, there were talks of California seceding from the US. However, people recognized we could not survive alone. I think that even though Spanish actions were seemingly unfair, they were better for both groups.
Due to Jackson's comment on the Spanish constitution I have to say that we can't blame Spain for doing anything illegal, I am worried about what may happen because of this. While people say Catalania can't survive on their own, the citizens of Catalania definitely aren't concerned about/considering this, and I'm worried riots and violence may occur.
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