Catalonia votes on autonomy plan

[Bono]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5091572.stm

    
Last Updated: Sunday, 18 June 2006, 08:04 GMT 09:04 UK
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Catalonia votes on autonomy plan
Catalan protester
Rights won by Catalonia could be available to other regions
The Spanish region of Catalonia is voting on a new charter that would declare it a nation within Spain.

If the "yes" vote for greater autonomy is successful, Catalonia, in the north-east, would become one of Europe's most independent regions.

The draft plan allows for more independence in areas such as how tax is spent and immigration policies.

Latest opinion polls suggest most Catalans favour the plan, but more than half of all Spaniards reject it.

The proposal is supported by the Spanish government, Catalonia's ruling Socialists and moderate nationalists, but it is opposed by both the conservative Popular Party and leftists who favour outright independence.

Less than a sixth of Spain's population lives in Catalonia but the region accounts for a fifth of the country's economy.

Break-up fears

The referendum is the final step in a process which began in September 2005 when Catalonia's parliament approved a new version of the Statute - the document that organises the relationship and the division of political powers between Spain and Catalonia.

Map

The new version refers to Catalonia as a nation.

Its proposals include giving Catalans more tax revenues and a greater say over how that money is spent, as well as an increase in control over airports and immigration.

The Spanish government has endorsed the plan, but the conservative Popular Party has led the campaign against the move.

Leftists within the region also reject the plan, saying they want outright independence.

The BBC's Andre Vornic says in Spain there is less sympathy for what many see as a selfish power-grab, much too close to de facto independence.

Other concerns are that the Basque country, which suffered from an armed separatist struggle for more than 30 years, may be encouraged to formulate its own demands - which could cause Spain to finally break up.

However, observers say the progress of Catalonia's autonomy plan may have influenced the ceasefire announced by the armed Basque separatists Eta earlier this year.

Polling stations opened at 0900 (0700 GMT) and are scheduled to close at 2000 (1800 GMT), with results expected later on Sunday.

[Bono]

www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/06/18/catalonia-sun.html


Catalonia chooses semi-autonomy in binding Spanish vote
Last Updated Mon, 19 Jun 2006 08:08:39 EDT
CBC News

Spain's Catalonia region won a degree of independence from Madrid in a referendum Sunday that some observers said eventually could lead to the break-up of the nation.

    Catalan nationalists marched in Barcelona to support the Catalan charter earlier this year. (Manu Fernandez/Associated Press) Catalan nationalists marched in Barcelona to support the Catalan charter earlier this year. (Manu Fernandez/Associated Press)

Nearly 75 per cent of voters in this north-eastern region of Spain approved the plan in a binding referendum that gives Catalonia sweeping new powers to run its own affairs.

"The citizens have decided to open a new era with more strength, more acknowledgment of the Catalan national reality, more areas of jurisdiction, more resources and more capacity to intervene in Spanish and European policy," said Jose Montilla, the Spanish industry minister and the second-highest official in the Catalan branch of the ruling Socialist party.

The new charter, which is binding, gives Catalonia greater control over its tax revenues and judicial appointments; control over its transportation system and immigrant work permits; greater latitude to deal with foreign powers and, indirectly, a proclamation of Catalonia as a nation.

Catalonia and the Basque region were given a large degree of self-rule after the death of Gen. Francisco Franco in 1975. But this charter gives Catalonia extra rights that effectively make it a semi-independent nation.

Conservatives opposed the new charter, saying it creates a semi-autonomous zone that will encourage other semi-autonomous Spanish regions to seek the same rights. It also threatens Spain's tax base and its economic self-sufficiency, they said.

Josep Pique, leader of the Catalan branch of the opposition Popular party, called it a bad day for Spain. "Today we suffered an extraordinary setback," he told the Associated Press .

Gabino Escribano, 38, an industrial technician from the Valencia region, said he voted against the charter because "I don't like the idea of Spain breaking up. [Catalan politicians] are playing with fire."

But Barcelona secretary Asun Busquets, 40, said she voted in favour of the new charter, saying Catalonia deserves greater autonomy because it accounts for 20 per cent of the Spanish economy.

"It is a way of achieving equality with the rest of Spain," she said.

[Jacobtm]

If Catalonians aren't happy with their position in Spain, then by all means they should govern themselves. I can never understand why people have to deal with so much BS to set up their own new government...

It's really noble that Zapatero isn't going nuts over this, even though he'll lose support in the Spanish parliament if Catalonia full secedes.

[Kevinstat]

It's really noble that Zapatero isn't going nuts over this, even though he'll lose support in the Spanish parliament if Catalonia full secedes.

Is Catalonia center-left on the national level?  I always thought it was generally conservative, with the most recent local elections being an exception to the general rule.  But I could be wrong.

[Jacobtm]

It's really noble that Zapatero isn't going nuts over this, even though he'll lose support in the Spanish parliament if Catalonia full secedes.

Is Catalonia center-left on the national level?  I always thought it was generally conservative, with the most recent local elections being an exception to the general rule.  But I could be wrong.

I'm no expert on Spanish demographics, but in reading an article in The Economist, it was said that it was foolish for Zapatero to sign off on Catalan independence, since Catalonia sends Socialists to the Spanish Parliament that he relies on to keep his coalition in power. It's foolish if he's power-hungry, but it's great if he respects peoples wishes.

[Kevinstat]

Thanks, Jacobtm.  I was confusing Catalonia with Galicia at the northwest (as opposed to northeast) end of the country.  Galicia seems to be quite conservative on the national level, while Catalonia did indeed support Zapatero in the 2004 election and may generally elect Socialists to the Congress of Deputies.  I agree that it would be noble for Zapatero to let Catalonia seceed from Spain, but autonomy and secession of course are not the same thing.  Will the plan agreed to in the latest referrendum result in Catalonia voters having less of a voice in the Spanish parliament (whether through fewer members in parliament or what - I'm pretty sure the Chamber of Deputies is not elected by first past the post, but if the proportional representation is done by a region-by-region basis you could reduce the influence of voters in an autonomous region by reducing the number of members elected from that region)?  That could hurt Zapatero, but Catalonia merely gaining increased autonomy while retaining its citizens' current influence in the Spanish central government wouldn't hurt the party those citizens tend to support unless and until the region actually seceeds or otherwise loses all or some of it's representation in the Spanish parliament.

[ag]

Catalonia is going to stay part of Spain, and is going to still send its representatives to the Cortes in Madrid.

As for the political composition of Catalonia, it is, essentially, quadripartite.

Until recently, the dominant force there was Convergencia i Unio, a permanent coalition of a conservative and a centrist Catalan nationalist parties. Of all the Spanish regional nationalist parties CiU is the only one that on a lot of issues is actually conservative (or, at least, part of it is). However, being Catalan nationalists they are unrelated to the pan-Spanish conservatives of the People's party, and untainted  by the latter's association with franquism. On the national level CiU has at different times supported either the Conservatives or the Sociallists (in a sense, they are the only possible major coalition partner for the Spanish conservatives in the Spanish parliament, but the sharp disagreements on the regional autnomy issues mean that this is always a difficult alliance at best). At present they are outside the government in both Catalonia and Spain.  However, CiU supported the new Catalan Statute.

The other major force in Catalonia is the Catalan Sociallist Party (PSC) - the regional outfit of the nationwide Spanish Sociallist Workers' Party (PSOE). Since the last last election PSC has been at the head of the Catalan coalition government (together with the Communists and, until a few weeks ago, the Catalan Republican Left). As in the rest of Spain, I believe there is also some sort of a pan-Spanish Communist Left alliance (I don't immediately recall its Catalan initials), which competes against the Sociallists in the elections but, if push comes to shove, can be more or less counted on in supporting the Sociallists against the right in the legislature.

The third force (which, embarassingly, has on occasion started coming fourth in the elections) is the pan-Spanish People's Party (PP). PP's "franquist" links make a lot of people skittish about voting for them, and in Catalonia the availability of CiU means that a lot of the generally conservative public has a legitimate democratic conservative party to vote for, meaning that PP is never more than a distant also-run there.  It is, of course, the only unambiguously pan-Spanish and centralist party in Catalonia, but this is a niche electorate in the region (15-20% of the vote).

Finally, last but no longer necessarily the least is the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) - the nationalist leftist party. After the last Catalan elections ERC became PSC's partner in the local government, though it has always been a very tricky partner (its leaders' insistence on meeting the Basque ultras even before the ceasefire caused a crisis within weeks from the government being formed). ERC is the only anti-monarchist party in Catalonia (and almost the only successful one in Spain). It is also the only party that unambiguously calls for Catalan independence. It has finally been forced to leave the regional government after refusing to support the new Statute as "too little". Their departure means that a new regional election will have to be held in Catalonia shortly (unless somehow a "grand coalition" of PSC and CiU can be formed, which I don't believe is at all likely).

[Jacobtm]

Thanks, Jacobtm.  I was confusing Catalonia with Galicia at the northwest (as opposed to northeast) end of the country.  Galicia seems to be quite conservative on the national level, while Catalonia did indeed support Zapatero in the 2004 election and may generally elect Socialists to the Congress of Deputies.  I agree that it would be noble for Zapatero to let Catalonia seceed from Spain, but autonomy and secession of course are not the same thing.  Will the plan agreed to in the latest referrendum result in Catalonia voters having less of a voice in the Spanish parliament (whether through fewer members in parliament or what - I'm pretty sure the Chamber of Deputies is not elected by first past the post, but if the proportional representation is done by a region-by-region basis you could reduce the influence of voters in an autonomous region by reducing the number of members elected from that region)?  That could hurt Zapatero, but Catalonia merely gaining increased autonomy while retaining its citizens' current influence in the Spanish central government wouldn't hurt the party those citizens tend to support unless and until the region actually seceeds or otherwise loses all or some of it's representation in the Spanish parliament.

Yeah, you're right. The article I was referencing was from quite some time ago when the proposal was not in its current form. It was up in the air whether or not it would be more autonomy or full secession. The Economist was just saying that Zapatero supporting these guys could backfire if they did get the votes to secede.

[Bono]

parties. Of all the Spanish regional nationalist parties CiU is the only one that on a lot of issues is actually conservative (or, at least, part of it is).

What about the Basque Nationalost Party and Canarian Coalition(these last ones not so much).

[ag]

Thanks, Jacobtm.  I was confusing Catalonia with Galicia at the northwest (as opposed to northeast) end of the country.  Galicia seems to be quite conservative on the national level, while Catalonia did indeed support Zapatero in the 2004 election and may generally elect Socialists to the Congress of Deputies.  I agree that it would be noble for Zapatero to let Catalonia seceed from Spain, but autonomy and secession of course are not the same thing.  Will the plan agreed to in the latest referrendum result in Catalonia voters having less of a voice in the Spanish parliament (whether through fewer members in parliament or what - I'm pretty sure the Chamber of Deputies is not elected by first past the post, but if the proportional representation is done by a region-by-region basis you could reduce the influence of voters in an autonomous region by reducing the number of members elected from that region)?  That could hurt Zapatero, but Catalonia merely gaining increased autonomy while retaining its citizens' current influence in the Spanish central government wouldn't hurt the party those citizens tend to support unless and until the region actually seceeds or otherwise loses all or some of it's representation in the Spanish parliament.

Yeah, you're right. The article I was referencing was from quite some time ago when the proposal was not in its current form. It was up in the air whether or not it would be more autonomy or full secession. The Economist was just saying that Zapatero supporting these guys could backfire if they did get the votes to secede.

It was never about full secession: nobody, other than the ERC has ever proposed anything like that, and no such proposal was ever seriously considered. It is true, that some opponents of the measure claimed that an earlier draft amounted to secession - but this was, should we say it, an exaggeration. Under no proposed conditions would Catalans stop electing members of the Spanish parliament.

[ag]

parties. Of all the Spanish regional nationalist parties CiU is the only one that on a lot of issues is actually conservative (or, at least, part of it is).

What about the Basque Nationalost Party and Canarian Coalition(these last ones not so much).

Well, I guess PNV is of a center-right origin as well, though I don't think that's the reason anybody votes for it, nor does the party itself seem to care much about that - it is the nationalist dimension that dominates everything there. It would be hard for me to see a PNV-supported PP government in Spain (or a PP-supported PNV government in the Basque country). On the other hand, CiU has supported PP in the center. Carnarios are not very insignificant (nor are they very conservative).