Catalunya approves independence resolution in Parliament and starts work on its own 'national' laws
Catalunya approves independence resolution in Parliament and starts work on its own 'national' laws
CATALUNYA'S regional Parliament has approved its plan for secession from Spain despite votes against by the PP, socialists, centre-right independents Ciudadanos, and its left-wing opposite Podemos, or Catalunya Sí Que Es Pot.
But opposition votes were not necessary, since pro-independence parties Junts pel Sí and CUP together are a majority – although to govern as such they will need to agree on whether or not the former's number four and current president Artur Mas will continue in office.
The result of the debate has created a political frenzy in the rest of Spain, with most parties in the national government being dead against the move.
Spanish president Mariano Rajoy says it 'will not happen' and that by applying the law of the country, secession could not go ahead.
His polar opposite and main election rival Pedro Sánchez (PSOE, or socialists) said CUP and Junts pel Sí had 'betrayed the people of Catalunya', both those who do not want to live in a separate country and those who have been led to believe they do but who will have to face serious consequences.
These consequences would mean Catalunya losing its place in the European Union and the United Nations, trade barriers and increased import and export duties, and natives needing visas to visit other countries.
Mas and his party leader Raúl Romeva insist they will not end up in a position where residents in Catalunya 'need to have a different passport' or have to show it to leave the region, or future country.
The new regional Parliamentary resolution says Catalunya will no longer be subject to Spain's laws or to its Constitutional Court, and will cease to be 'subordinate' to the mother country.
Mas says the resolution in itself is 'a solemn declaration' of the 'start of a process' towards the creation of 'an independent Republic of Catalunya'.
He says the process will include three basic 'disconnection' laws being drafted in the next 30 days – one on the 'constitutional plan', one on Social Security and one on Treasury and taxation.
Later, laws on 'energy poverty' – residents who are unable to afford water and electricity – education, splitting away from the recently-effective law passed by former minister José Ignacio Wert, and on other issues such as 'taking in the maximum number of refugees' will be worked on.
Furthermore, the new Republic of Catalunya will guarantee homes for anyone whose own property has been repossessed, equality between men and women, and the right to an abortion.
The resolution means the independence plan will be formally communicated to the Spanish State, the European Union and the 'international community', such as the UN and other bodies.
Whether or not Catalunya can legally get away with a unilateral declaration of independence is another matter, and one which has seen every side of the political fence in the Spanish government putting aside their differences in order to discuss what it considers to be a sovereignty crisis.
Rajoy and Sánchez, arch-rivals at the ballot boxes, are due to meet today to talk the issue through.
But they may be jumping the gun, since Mas has already hinted that he would block his own independence process if CUP and the rest of Junts pel Sí do not vote for him to be president in the forthcoming in-house elections, which always follow a national, regional or local poll.
CUP believes Junts pel Sí leader Raúl Romeva would be a better option, since 'to form a coalition one cannot speak of black and white' but that in their view, Romeva is 'the grey area'.
