Catalonia independence vote rejected

[bryant.coleman]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26949794

Spanish MPs have voted overwhelmingly to reject a request by the Catalan authorities to hold a referendum on independence on 9 November. After seven hours of debate, 299 MPs voted against the motion, with 47 votes in favour and one abstention.

[Kiki112]

doesn't matter what they think, only matters what people in Catalonia think

[bryant.coleman]

doesn't matter what they think, only matters what people in Catalonia think

Well.. according to the opinion polls, the vats majority of the Catalonians want independence. But the Spanish politicians are saying that they will intervene militarily to prevent that.

[Balthazar]

They need to start formation of self-defence forces, like people of the Republic of Crimea did. Then ignore central government and perform a referendum without their permission...

P.S. Seizure of local administrative institutions may be helpful too.

[Nemo1024]

NATO should intervene and bomb Madrid to free Catalonia... Oh, wait. NATO already have a military base in Spain. Nothing to do there. Democracy and self-determination is already achieved. Move along.

[bryant.coleman]

NATO should intervene and bomb Madrid to free Catalonia

Did you mistook Madrid for Belgrade?  (And Catalonia for Kosovo?  )

[zolace]

In a world that as communicated and with a common market and currency like that of Europe, independence tends to be relative and easy to sustain even for very small units like Catalonia. If anything I expect many more such movements.

[EasySam]

I wonder if Catalonia really need it.

Also how many people leaving there really want it.

[Nemo1024]

I wonder if Catalonia really need it.

Also how many people leaving there really want it.

That's what a referendum would have found out. Yet, the central government is scared of it, so their fears that the region that feeds the whole Spain will secede must be justified.

[bryant.coleman]

I wonder if Catalonia really need it.

Opinions polls have found huge support for independence there. There is a lot of resentment that Catalonia, one of the most tax paying regions of Spain is funding the other regions in the South.

[Kiki112]

I wonder if Catalonia really need it.

Opinions polls have found huge support for independence there. There is a lot of resentment that Catalonia, one of the most tax paying regions of Spain is funding the other regions in the South.

but how will we watch the El Clasico ever again?

[countryfree]

I'm going to Spain quite often, and all this is laughable. Italy had the same problem when the Northern League wanted to break up from the South. In both cases, this is highly opportunistic. Catalonia is doing a bit better than the other Spanish regions at this time but that wasn't true 100 years ago, and that may not last.

We shall also remember that 2 years ago, Catalonia was begging Madrid for refinancing.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9290206/Catalonia-calls-for-help-from-central-government-to-pay-debts.html

[bryant.coleman]

We shall also remember that 2 years ago, Catalonia was begging Madrid for refinancing.

That depends on which media you want to rely on.

Catalonia, with less than 20% of the Spanish population contributes to more than 40% of its tax revenue. So two years ago, when the province faced a revenue crunch, they asked the Madrid to give them a part of the tax revenues, which were extracted from the province.

[Mike Christ]

Isn't this contradictory?  If you have to ask for independence, you're really not serious about independence.  To be independent is to be sovereign; to ask permission to be independent implies you're submitting to a higher authority.  So of course they voted no; they were stating the obvious.

[bryant.coleman]

To be independent is to be sovereign; to ask permission to be independent implies you're submitting to a higher authority.

No one asked for the permission. There is a planned referendum on November this year, so see whether the people want to be independent or not. On the other hand, Spain is saying that it will not allow Catalonia to hold the referendum.

[Balthazar]

Next step is deny presidential or parliamentary elections.  

[Kiki112]

To be independent is to be sovereign; to ask permission to be independent implies you're submitting to a higher authority.

No one asked for the permission. There is a planned referendum on November this year, so see whether the people want to be independent or not. On the other hand, Spain is saying that it will not allow Catalonia to hold the referendum.

wow, this will escalate

the world is getting involved in confilcts more and more by each day, this Crimea thing might be a trigger for all other nations to think, hey, we can do that too

and that's exactly what they need to do, stop the oppression

[Balthazar]

By the way, draft constitution of Crimea was put up for discussion yesterday

[Nemo1024]

...this Crimea thing might be a trigger for all other nations to think, hey, we can do that too

and that's exactly what they need to do, stop the oppression

Technically, it started with NATO's intervention in Kosovo. Back then Russia was telling NATO that they are setting up a dangerous precedent for separatism.

Later this year, there'll be a referendum for independence of Scotland, which UK acknowledges, so there is a good chance will see one more state emerge this year.

[bryant.coleman]

Technically, it started with NATO's intervention in Kosovo. Back then Russia was telling NATO that they are setting up a dangerous precedent for separatism.

Exactly. Kosovo was historical Serbian homeland which was snatched away by Bill & Hillary Clinton, and given to the organized Shqiptar criminals. You reap what you sow.