Pro-independence parties in Spain’s north-eastern Catalonia region are posing new challenges to the government in Madrid. In a significant development yesterday, the pro-freedom parties in the sensitive region struck a deal to form a government. It was a moment of rare unity in Catalonia and a sign of more headache for the government in Madrid. Parties favouring independence had won a majority of seats in a September regional ballot in Catalonia, but divisions between the parties had undermined their prospect of moving forward with an independence drive. Finally, putting an end to the bickering, the anti-capitalist party CUP said it is now ready to back the head of the regional government, Artur Mas, allowing him to stay on as leader. The deal also comprises an economic plan and an 18-month roadmap to independence.
The government in Madrid has fiercely opposed independence for Catalonia, while the region has been stubborn and steadfast in its demands for the same. With Spain’s political parties facing weeks of negotiations to form a government, the Catalan issue is now set to come into play again.
The latest development can complicate the political climate in Spain. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of the People’s Party (PP), who is a fierce champion of Spanish unity and known for blocking the independence drive over the past four years, lost his majority in the December 20 general election and has been struggling to form a government. In what could lead to a complex political coalition, an alliance of left-wing opponents of Rajoy, could include leftist parties from Catalonia that support independence.
The question of Catalonia’s secession is likely pose new problems to Madrid and the time has come for the entire country to look at the issue afresh. The separatist movement in Catalonia has faced several setbacks in recent months. Fierce opposition from the centre-right central government in Madrid received backing from the court too. In November, the country’s Constitutional Court blocked a resolution passed by Catalonia’s regional parliament to start an independence process, which entailed setting up a republic within 18 months.
Spaniards oppose any division of their country, while Catalonians seem determined to secede. The recent elections have further complicated the matter, in which two new parties rocked the country’s traditional two-horse race – a result which experts are saying could prove beneficial for the independence lobby in Catalonia. The left-wing Podemos and the right-of-centre Ciudadanos (parties received strong support from voters weary of high unemployment, austerity and disgust over the country’s political status quo. The new Spanish government will have to finally come to terms with the issue of Catalonian independence and act accordingly•
Pro-independence parties in Spain’s north-eastern Catalonia region are posing new challenges to the government in Madrid. In a significant development yesterday, the pro-freedom parties in the sensitive region struck a deal to form a government. It was a moment of rare unity in Catalonia and a sign of more headache for the government in Madrid. Parties favouring independence had won a majority of seats in a September regional ballot in Catalonia, but divisions between the parties had undermined their prospect of moving forward with an independence drive. Finally, putting an end to the bickering, the anti-capitalist party CUP said it is now ready to back the head of the regional government, Artur Mas, allowing him to stay on as leader. The deal also comprises an economic plan and an 18-month roadmap to independence.
The government in Madrid has fiercely opposed independence for Catalonia, while the region has been stubborn and steadfast in its demands for the same. With Spain’s political parties facing weeks of negotiations to form a government, the Catalan issue is now set to come into play again.
The latest development can complicate the political climate in Spain. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of the People’s Party (PP), who is a fierce champion of Spanish unity and known for blocking the independence drive over the past four years, lost his majority in the December 20 general election and has been struggling to form a government. In what could lead to a complex political coalition, an alliance of left-wing opponents of Rajoy, could include leftist parties from Catalonia that support independence.
The question of Catalonia’s secession is likely pose new problems to Madrid and the time has come for the entire country to look at the issue afresh. The separatist movement in Catalonia has faced several setbacks in recent months. Fierce opposition from the centre-right central government in Madrid received backing from the court too. In November, the country’s Constitutional Court blocked a resolution passed by Catalonia’s regional parliament to start an independence process, which entailed setting up a republic within 18 months.
Spaniards oppose any division of their country, while Catalonians seem determined to secede. The recent elections have further complicated the matter, in which two new parties rocked the country’s traditional two-horse race – a result which experts are saying could prove beneficial for the independence lobby in Catalonia. The left-wing Podemos and the right-of-centre Ciudadanos (parties received strong support from voters weary of high unemployment, austerity and disgust over the country’s political status quo. The new Spanish government will have to finally come to terms with the issue of Catalonian independence and act accordingly•
