Why Catalonia separates from Spain?

Catalonia separates from Spain! News about this became once again popular. Large-scale rallies and voting are held. But why Catalonia is separated from Spain, and why is it for her?

November's failures

In November 2014, the Congress of Deputies of Spain decided to refuse to hold a referendum on independence in Catalonia. According to the law of the kingdom, a vote on the separation of any of the regions should be conducted throughout the country. At the same time, such a strict and complex procedure practically does not provide an opportunity for its implementation.

Exactly one year later, on November 9, the parliament of the autonomous region of Catalonia adopted a resolution, which formulated the main goal - "gaining independence from Madrid." The whole world started talking about the fact that Catalonia separates from Spain. Is it true?

An action plan was developed for the separation of Catalonia from Spain by 2017. Residents need to form a government and adopt a new Constitution, after which their land will become officially free. However, in the elections in Catalonia, aspiring to autonomy, most residents voted for a single Spain.

Immediately after this, the Council of Ministers of Spain filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court, in order that the latter, in turn, recognize the resolution of the autonomous republic as null and void. Once again, the attempts of the Catalans to withdraw from the Kingdom of Spain were unsuccessful. The Constitutional Court of the country annulled the resolution adopted on November 9, 2015. But the Catalan government stated that it will continue to take all measures to achieve the goal. Why does Catalonia want to secede from Spain?

How it all began

The people of Catalonia have long sought to preserve their independence, national uniqueness and cultural identity. But as a result of numerous bloody wars, he failed to protect his own freedom. Catalonia has been separated from Spain for more than three centuries. Why is this happening?

The history of Catalonia dates back to 988. Count Borrell II declared freedom of his own lands from French invaders and proclaimed his land as a county of Barcelona.

In 1137 there is a landmark association of the county of Barcelona with the kingdom of Aragon. Catalonia significantly increases in size, establishing its power in the territory of present-day Italy, Andorra, France (southern part) and Valencia. To date , the native language of the inhabitants of the Autonomous Region of Valencia in Spain is little different from the Catalan, and some residents of this area consider themselves Catalans. At the same time, the people of Valencia do not want to gain sovereignty.

Loss of sovereignty

The first loss of independence of Catalonia occurred as a result of the war of 1701-1714 between the heirs of the Spanish throne, Philip V and Charles VI of Habsburg. The victory of the first ended in the loss of sovereignty of the feudal lords, who made a bet on the Habsburgs. The state day of Catalonia, which is widely celebrated in the region in these years, is just timed to this date.

From this stage began the long struggle of the Catalans for independence. Repeatedly trying to acquire sovereignty, the republic suffered many acts of intense and violent "evaporation". This is one of the reasons why Catalonia wants to secede from Spain.

The Civil War in Spain

The most successful chance of gaining independence was the civil war in 1871, which ended in the overthrow of the monarchy in Spain. Catalonia was recognized as an autonomy. The struggle against Franco turned into a persecution for the indigenous Catalans. Many were forced to leave their homeland, fearing execution. Once again, losing the status of autonomy, Catalonia managed to return it only by 1979 thanks to the terrorist organization Terra Liura.

XXI Century. Declaration of Sovereignty

In 2006, as a result of the negotiations of the Catalan Parliament with the Government of Spain, the autonomous region was granted additional rights. They mainly concern the economic part. But to extinguish separatist sentiments among the Catalans this measure did not help, but only produced the opposite effect.

In 2013, the inhabitants of Catalonia have achieved much. They have their own nationality, celebrate their own holidays at the state level. In contrast to the entire territory of Spain, on the lands of Catalonia forbidden bullfighting due to cruel treatment of animals. Here do not dance flamenco. The Catalan language is recognized as official, and all the locals emphatically prefer it to Spanish. A unique fact is also the fact that the Catalans have their own domain on the Internet, which does not occur in any region or autonomy in any country.

The Declaration on the Sovereignty of Catalonia, adopted in 2013, only sparked a new wave of nationalist movements. And the economic crisis, which aggravated the financial situation of the Catalans, gave impetus to industrialization. To date, this province is the most developed in the composition of Spain. Given that the population of Catalonia is only one-seventh of the total number of Spain, in its territory is located just under 50 percent of the entire industry of the kingdom. Tourist business is widely developed, providing the GDP of Spain by 1/5.

Resonant is the reluctance of the Catalans to share with the unemployed Spaniards during the economic downturn. This is the main reason why Catalonia wants to secede from Spain.

You can not leave

There is one, incredibly significant factor that forces the Catalans to vote for unity with Spain. This is membership in the European Union. Surprisingly, this allows Spain to feel a little more confident in this struggle for independence.

The detachment from Madrid threatens Barcelona with the loss of ties with Brussels. This will automatically delete Catalonia from the EU, which will negatively affect all the economic indicators of the region. And even if Madrid, which previously did not recognize Palestine, Kosovo, Abkhazia, or the Crimea, nevertheless recognizes Catalonia as a separate independent state, it will be a long time until new contracts are signed and former agreements are signed. The resources spent on conducting negotiations, resolving all legal issues and drawing up the necessary contracts will adversely affect the state of the economy and the financial well-being of every citizen of Catalonia.

Radical separatists do not attach any importance to this fact, calling for sovereignty. Conducting rallies, processions and various agitation, the nationalists were preparing for a referendum on November 9.

You can, but you can not

Officially, the government of Spain allows the local authorities of Catalonia to consider and adopt a new resolution on sovereignty, but after its adoption and the regular voting of the residents, they appeal to the court, which cancels this decision. Catalonia is not deprived of the constitutional right to conduct a plebiscite and further separation, but do not allow them to take advantage of it. This also causes a wave of discontent among residents and encourages them to fight.

Once again, the attempt to become a separate state ended unsuccessfully. And it should be noted that at the last referendum, 70% of the inhabitants of Catalonia voted "NO", thereby wishing to remain in Spain. But a party was elected to the autonomy parliament, whose political course is set for detachment and independence. This means that the process will not stop, and in the near future, perhaps, we will witness the birth of a new state. Separate whether Catalonia from Spain, 100% can not say no one. But time will tell.