Why do some catalans want Independence?

This article is based on The Guardian report written the 21st of September by Sam Jones.

What is going on in Catalonia?

Catalonia’s regional government intends to hold an independence referendum on 1 October. The Spanish government has vowed to stop the vote, which it says is unconstitutional, and the two governments – one in Madrid, one in Barcelona – are now on a collision course.

Why do some Catalans want independence?

Referendum held the 1st of October is the result of 15 years of autonomy political fights. Many Catalans are still angry about the Spanish constitutional court’s decision seven years ago to annul or reinterpret parts of the 2006 Catalan statute of autonomy, which would have afforded the region greater independence.

The independence movement, led by the regional president, Carles Puigdemont, argues that Catalonia has a moral, cultural, economic and political right to self-determination. Its supporters feel their rich region of 7.5 million people has long put more into Spain than it has received in return.

How strong is support for independence?

Huge majority of Catalans (70%-80% depending on the polls) want to be able to vote in a referendum but they are more evenly divided when it comes to independence. Surveys never showed a clear winner for a potential Referendum. 

What does the Spanish government say about all this?

The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has insisted the referendum will not go ahead and has promised to use all legal means at the government’s disposal to prevent it.

What happens next?

No one knows but there will be more cat-and-mouse games between the Spanish government and the Catalan government. Neither side shows any sign of backing down: Puigdemont says the referendum will go ahead; Rajoy is adamant it won’t.

The Spanish government has not ruled out resorting to article 155 of the constitution, never before used, which would allow the central government to suspend Catalonia’s autonomy and take control to stop the vote. However, such a move – coming soon after the controversial raids – would probably prove hugely counter-productive. Not only would it be seen as excessively heavy-handed at home and abroad, it would also massively boost the independentists’ cause.