SPAIN: POLITICS - Parties wrap up their campaigning for the new Catalan government election, in which separatist parties are likely to claim the upper hand

Record ID: 346701

  • Title: SPAIN: POLITICS - Parties wrap up their campaigning for the new Catalan government election, in which separatist parties are likely to claim the upper hand
  • Date: 23rd November 2012
  • Summary: SANCHEZ CAMACHO AND COSPEDAL SEATED
  • Embargoed: 8th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2WVI0EUU7G2E0WV9P7DEZ12DC
  • Story Text: Campaigning came to a close on Friday (November 23) evening in Spain's wealthy but financially troubled region of Catalonia as it prepares to choose a new government on Sunday (November 25) in an election that could trigger a constitutional crisis over a resurgent Catalan breakaway movement.
    Opinion polls show most Catalans will vote for pro-independence parties, either from the left or right, handing their leader a mandate to hold a referendum on succession, despite strong resistance from the Spanish government.
    On Friday, the candidate of Spain's ruling Popular Party for this Sunday's regional vote called on the electorate to cast their ballots for unity arguing it was the only way out of the crisis.

    "Catalans want and need a party with clear ideas that bets on prosperity and unity, that is strong in the Catalan parliament and strong in the Spanish Parliament and in Europe so that it can stop the CiU's separatism and take Catalonia out of the crisis," said Alicia Sanchez Camacho, adding: "I will borrow your vote to unite and add to guarantee we can live together in harmony so that nobody separates us."
    Catalan President Artur Mas of the Convergence and Unity Party is expected to win re-election in voting for the regional assembly in Barcelona, after he converted to the independence cause following a massive pro-secession march in September.
    The 56 year old politician hoped for a new future for the region in his final speech in Barcelona on Friday (November 23).

    "Catalonia is one of the oldest nations in Europe, and all along our history we've had to fight very high obstacles, very strong setbacks. But we have overcome our difficulties. We have fought against armies, we have fought against dictatorships, we have overcome setbacks. And now we are alive. Our culture is alive, Our language is alive. Our nation is alive," he said.

    "We stand for the principle of freedom. We stand for democracy. And we are trying to build up a broad majority, a very big and broad majority next Sunday to build the future of our nation, the future of 7,5 million people of this country," he added.
    The secessionist threat is a major problem for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy who is trying to show stability and fiscal responsibility in his fight to keep Spain in the euro currency zone and avoid an international bailout, despite a savage recession.
    Polls show Mas's CiU winning about 62 seats on Sunday. It's not enough for an absolute majority, but together with other parties such as the ERC, independence supporters will probably have a two-thirds majority in the Catalan parliament.
    Like the Basque Country, which also borders France, Catalonia has its own language and sees itself as different from the rest of Spain.
    Catalonia's busy Mediterranean ports, car factories, chemical plants and banks account for a fifth of Spain's economy. Until recently the region of 7.5 million people were content to push for greater self-governance - such as collecting and spending its own taxes - without seeking independence.
    But Spain's recession, with 25 percent unemployment and drastic public spending cuts, has sharpened a Catalan perception that they are taxed unfairly.
    Like the rest of Spain, Catalonia overspent during a decade-long property boom that crashed in 2007 and now it cannot borrow on the markets on its own because its debt has been downgraded to junk. That forced Mas, who as head of the regional government is elected by the assembly rather than directly by voters, to ask Madrid for a 5 billion euro bailout to meet debt payments.
    Even so, Catalans blame their problems on Madrid rather than their own leader. Just as Germany has wearied of bailing out Greece and other southern European countries, many Catalans feel their taxes are being used by Madrid to prop up poorer areas of the country.
    The frustration crystallised in the biggest-ever demonstration for independence on Sept. 11, Catalan national day, when hundreds of thousands marched in the streets.
    Prime Minister Rajoy has warned that Catalonia would have to re-apply to join the European Union if it left Spain, a lengthy process, while King Juan Carlos has also called for unity.
    In part inspired by independence drives in Scotland and Belgium's Flanders, a growing number of Catalans believe their region - which has more people than Denmark and an economy rivalling Portugal's in size - would be better off on its own.
    Polls show that between 46 percent and 57 percent of Catalans want their own country, the highest levels ever.
    Many voters in Catalonia don't want to see secession happening. They denounce Mas as an opportunist who will soon renew talks with Madrid over taxes. Other suspect his newly-found independence fervour is meant to distract them from spending cuts in hospitals and schools.
    Leftist independence party ERC is projected to win 18 seats and almost double its presence in the 135-seat assembly.
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