SPAIN-CATALAN VOTE REACTION Catalonia ‘consultation of citizens’ brings independence debate to Madrid
Record ID:
328370
SPAIN-CATALAN VOTE REACTION Catalonia ‘consultation of citizens’ brings independence debate to Madrid
- Title: SPAIN-CATALAN VOTE REACTION Catalonia ‘consultation of citizens’ brings independence debate to Madrid
- Date: 10th November 2014
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (NOVEMBER 10, 2014) (REUTERS) CARS DRIVING ALONG GRAN VIA STREET NEWS STAND FRONT PAGE OF RIGHT WING NEWSPAPER "EL MUNDO" / LEFT WING NEWSPAPER "EL PAIS" / RIGHT WING NEWSPAPER "LA RAZON" / RIGHT WING NEWSPAPER "ABC" "ABC" FRONT PAGE READING (Spanish): "FARCE AND DISOBEDIENCE" AND "LA RAZON" FRONT PAGE READING (Spanish): "DISOBEDIENCE, PERVERSION OF JUSTICE AND EMBEZZLEMENT" "EL MUNDO" FRONT PAGE READING (Spanish): "MAS SELLS AS A GREAT SUCCESS HIS DEMOCRATIC FICTION AND ASKS FOR A REAL REFERENDUM" / "EL PAIS" FRONT PAGE READING (Spanish): "MAS: NOW THE DEFINITIVE REFERENDUM" PEOPLE WALKING ALONG FOOTPATH CALLAO METRO STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT, JOAN CANTERA, SAYING: "Well I understand that everybody has the right to decide if they what to be part of something or not. But it is yet to be seen if it would be good for them." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT, VALENTINA, SAYING: "The intention to separate Catalonia from Spain is shameful even if they don't feel (like) Spaniards." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT, ALFONSO, SAYING: "They should talk about this, the Spanish government and them (Catalonia government). If they what to be independent what would you like me to say. Nothing is going to change for me, I don't really care." BARCELONA, SPAIN (NOVEMBER 10, 2014) (REUTERS) CARS DRIVING ALONG STREET VARIOUS OF SEPARATIST "ESTELADA" FLAGS HANGING FROM BALCONIES NEWSPAPER STAND SEPARATIST SOUVENIRS AT NEWSPAPER STAND NEWSPAPERS ON DISPLAY FRONT PAGE OF "LA VANGUARDIA" NEWSPAPER WITH HEADLINE READING (Catalan): "A MASSIVE 9N CLAIMS FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION" FRONT PAGE OF "EL PUNT AVUI" NEWSPAPER WITH HEADLINE READING (Catalan): "THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT" FRONT PAGE OF "EL PAIS" NEWSPAPER WITH HEADLINE READING (Spanish): "MAS: NOW, THE DEFINITIVE REFERENDUM" (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) BARCELONA RESIDENT, INMACULADA FORNOS, SAYING: "I think all Catalans showed dignity. In the twenty first century, no bully from elsewhere is going to tell us not to vote. It is about dignity. I cried yesterday. I cried for my dad, who died two years ago and is missing what is going on in this country. Today I feel proud of being a Catalan and being able to express my opinion. And what I ask them is please, let us decide on what we want to do." (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) BARCELONA RESIDENT, ALBERT LABASTIDA, SAYING: "We need to start a dialogue. Catalans feel the need to be heard. That feeling has not been considered by the Spanish government, and now we have shown to Spain and to the rest of the world that we want to have a say." (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) BARCELONA RESIDENT, MERCE JEREMIES, SAYING: "What will happen from now? What will happen tomorrow? I think the key is the possible agreements politicians can reach. That is what I think." MAN ON BIKE PEOPLE WALKING WITH UMBRELLAS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROFESSOR OF LAW AND POLITICAL SCIENCES AT UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA, JORDI MATAS, SAYING: "Despite the difficulties to organise the 'consultation', the fact that two million people voted is a success and therefore it must be understood like that. It should be a sign to Catalan and Spanish politicians to make a move and negotiate and reach an agreement regarding Catalonia, one that meets the interests of both." CARS DRIVING ALONG ROAD
- Embargoed: 25th November 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA227FX3RM98ZY20PP3O11018G2
- Story Text: Madrid woke with mixed feelings on Monday (November 10), after Catalonia held a 'consultation of citizens' showing that as many as 80 percent of Catalans back voting on the issue of Catalonia's status, and about 50 percent were in favour of full independence.
More than two million Catalans voted on Sunday (November 9), in a symbolic referendum on independence from Spain that supporters hope will propel the issue further despite opposition from Madrid central government.
Spanish newspapers reflected the debate surrounding the consultation and Catalonia's President, Artur Mas, dominated the headlines.
The front page of right wing newspaper El Mundo called the consultation a "democratic farce" while left wing "El Pais" read "Mas: Now the definitive referendum".
The 'consultation of citizens' in the wealthy north-eastern region follows a legal block by the central government against a more formal, albeit still non-binding ballot which regional leaders had been pushing for originally.
Because of the legal restrictions set on it, the ballot was set up and manned by grassroots pro-independence organisations, and Spanish unionist parties argue that, even for that reason alone, it could not legitimately reflect the wishes of anyone.
The ballot comes after two years of escalating tension between the central and the regional government.
The government argues that Catalonia, which makes up about 16 percent of Spain's population, cannot decide something which affects Spain as a whole on constitutional grounds.
Madrid resident Joan Cantera said Catalonia should have the right to decide its future.
"Well I understand that everybody has the right to decide if they what to be part of something or not. But it is yet to be seen if it would be good for them," he said.
But others rejected the outcome of the vote.
"The intention to separate Catalonia from Spain is shameful even if they don't feel (like) Spaniards," said Valentina.
Opinions in central Barcelona were consistent, asking politicians to start a concrete dialogue to solve the Catalan crisis.
"I think all Catalans showed dignity. In the twenty first century, no bully from elsewhere is going to tell us not to vote. It is about dignity. I cried yesterday. I cried for my dad, who died two years ago and is missing what is going on in this country. Today I feel proud of being a Catalan and being able to express my opinion. And what I ask them is please, let us decide on what we want to do," Inmaculada Fornos said.
"We need to start a dialogue. Catalans feel the need to be heard. That feeling has not been considered by the Spanish government, and now we have shown to Spain and to the rest of the world that we want to have a say," said Albert Labastida.
A Professor of Law and Political Sciences at the Universitat de Barcelona Jordi Matas said the next move was in the hands of both Catalan and Spanish politicians.
"Despite the difficulties to organise the 'consultation', the fact that two million people voted is a success and therefore it must be understood like that. It should be a sign to Catalan and Spanish politicians to make a move and negotiate and reach an agreement regarding Catalonia, one that meets the interests of both," he said.
A long-standing breakaway movement in Catalonia, which accounts for one-fifth of Spain's economic output and has its own distinct culture and language, has grown in strength during the recent years of deep recession.
In early September, buoyed by a Scottish independence campaign which ultimately lost out in a referendum, hundreds of thousands of Catalans dressed in the yellow and red of their regional flag packed the streets of Barcelona, forming a huge "V" to demand the right to vote.
Officially suspended by Spain's Constitutional Court after the Spanish government sought to stop it, Sunday's informal vote nonetheless passed off peacefully.
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