Parliament: ‘Catalonia is a sovereign entity’

  • Historic vote paves the way for a referendum on independence

VilaWeb
VilaWeb
VilaWeb
Redacció
23.01.2013 - 21:01

La premsa lliure no la paga el govern, la paguen els lectors


Fes-te de VilaWeb, fem-nos lliures

Catalan parliament on Wednesday passed with a two-third majority a resolution stating that Catalonia is a sovereign entity, paving the way for a referendum on independence from Spain. The proposal was carried by 85 votes in favor, with 41 against and two abstentions. The key part of the declaration reads: “The people of Catalonia have, by reason of democratic legitimacy, the character of a sovereign political and legal entity.”

The motion has been backed by the ruling Convergència i Unió party (a coalition of Christian Democrats and Liberals) the Republican Left (Left leaning opposition leaders) and ICV-EUiA (former communists and Greens). One of the members of the anti-capitalist CUP also voted Yes, while two others not.

The declaration has been opposed by the conservative Popular Party (PP), which holds an absolute majority in Madrid´s parliament, and by the opposition Socialists. But one of every four socialists MPs refused to vote against the Declaration opening a major crisis inside the party.

The next step for Catalonia in the referendum process will be to form a National Transition Council which will conduct research and advise on the route towards independence.

Polls show an overwhelming majority in Catalonia want a referendum on independence, highlighting increasing dissatisfaction with Spain’s government as it struggles with economic crisis. A survey last November by the Catalan government’s polling center showed 57% of Catalans would vote for independence, a 6 percentage-point increase from last June and a 14 percentage-point increase from mid-2011.

referendum has been rejected by Madrid, which says it would be against the constitution, introduced in 1978 to underpin Spain’s transition to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco Franco.

Us proposem un tracte just

Esperàveu topar, com fan tants diaris, amb un mur de pagament que no us deixés llegir aquest article? No és l’estil de VilaWeb.

La nostra missió és ajudar a crear una societat més informada i per això tota la nostra informació ha de ser accessible a tothom.

Això té una contrapartida, que és que necessitem que els lectors ens ajudeu fent-vos-en subscriptors.

Si us en feu, els vostres diners els transformarem en articles, dossiers, opinions, reportatges o entrevistes i aconseguirem que siguin a l’abast de tothom.

I tots hi sortirem guanyant.

per 6€ al mes

Si no pots, o no vols, fer-te'n subscriptor, ara també ens pots ajudar fent una donació única.

Si ets subscriptor de VilaWeb no hauries de veure ni aquest anunci ni cap. T’expliquem com fer-ho

Recomanem