A TOWN in the province of Tarragona wants to leave Catalunya and join the neighbouring region of Aragón, and has called an extraordinary general meeting of the town council to discuss the 'move'.
Batea town council says it has 'suffered a long history of discrimination' by the regional government of Catalunya, and cites just two examples – not enough places granted in elderly residential homes, and three wind farms 'forced' on the town against its will.
Mayor Joaquim Paladella said on Tuesday that he planned to call a referendum which, if backed sufficiently by residents, could lead to the regional borders being shifted on the map.
The idea led to so much media attention over the ensuing days that local authorities have called an open meeting with residents and the public to go through the finer details.
It is thought that those who support the idea of Batea becoming part of Aragón and leaving Catalunya are concerned about the latter region's near-obsession with declaring unilateral independence, defying Spain's government and breaking off as a separate country.
Paladella wants to meet up with Catalunya's regional president, the pro-secession Carles Puigdemont, and MP for Tarragona Jordi Serra.
But first, he wants to talk to residents, fearing that the issue 'may have caused concern' among some of them.
