Stephen Nulty 3:51 pm on September 30, 2017
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Saturday 30 September 2017 – Catalonia independence referendum – UPDATE

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With just hours to go before the controversial independence referendum is due to take place in the Catalonia region of Spain, police have moved into the autonomous region in an effort to prevent the referendum taking place.  The referendum, which has been called by the Catalan coalition government led by Carles Puigdemont, has been declared illegal by both the Spanish constitutional court and the national government of Mariano Rajoy in Madrid.

 

Nevertheless, the regional government in Barcelona is determined for the poll to take place at which the Catalan electorate will be asked whether the region should become independent of Spain.  Mr Puigdemont has already announced that his government will declare independence within two days of the referendum should the people vote for independence.

 

The national Spanish police have sealed off over half of the 2,315 schools which have been designated as polling stations in Catalonia in an attempt to stop them being used for that purpose. They are being assisted by the Catalan regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra.  The police have been told to clear the schools of any people, with many parents and teachers remaining in the school after they closed for the weekend in anticipation of just such action by the police.

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A witness to the occupation of schools and the response from the police was Quim Roy, a father who was at the Congrés-Indians primary school in Barcelona today. He said police told them not to display any material supporting the vote.  He added:

 

“We decided in a meeting that we would send the kids home. Calling them human shields is a huge lie, but I made my decision because there is fear. Who knows what will happen if the Guardia Civil comes.

 

“The only thing that is clear to me is that I won’t use violence. If they tell me I can’t be in a public school to exercise my democratic rights, they will have to take me out of here. I won’t resist, but they will have to carry me out.”

 

The police have also taken over the regional telecommunications centre in Barcelona and are said to be ready to stay there for at least two days as part of the attempts to stop the poll taking place.

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The central government’s Catalonia representative, Enric Millo told reporters: “Of the 2,315 polling stations […] 1,300 have been sealed off by the Mossos d’Esquadra,” and said that 163 of these were “peacefully” occupied by parents and teachers.  The police have given these people till 6am Sunday to leave and Mr Millo said that no-one else would be allowed in.  Meanwhile, Carles Puigdemont was determined in his statement: “Everything is prepared at the more than 2,000 voting points so they have ballot boxes and voting slips, and have everything people need to express their opinion.”  The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy has continued to express his belief that the referendum poll will not take place, having said that it goes against the Spanish constitution and “the indissoluble unity of the Spanish Nation, the common and indivisible homeland of all Spaniards.”

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Photo: A cruise ship in Barcelona chartered by the national police to house their officers

 

Screenshot_2The Spanish constitution allows for Catalan autonomy, along with autonomy for the regions of the Basque Country and Galicia, but it does not allow for a vote on independence or self-determination.  Mr Rajoy has long maintained his opposition to independence and has been implacable in his defiance of the wishes of many in Catalonia since they held a “trail referendum” in 2014, effectively ignoring that call for a legal vote.  The calls for independence have intensified after Mr Puigdemont (right) was able to form a coalition government and the national government has accused his government of being inflexible and one-sided – which in return the regional government in Barcelona accuses the Madrid government of the same.  The foreign minister in Madrid, Alfonso Dastis described Catalan’s referendum as anti-democratic  and that it runs “counter to the goals and ideals the European Union […] What they are pushing is not democracy. It is a mockery of democracy, a travesty of democracy.”

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Whichever way tomorrow’s referendum goes the consequences for Catalonia, Spain and the rest of Europe will continue long after.  Of course, the government in Madrid are under no legal obligation to do anything about independence for Catalonia if that is what the people decide.  The referendum is illegal under the Spanish constitution so the national government could legally simply ignore it.  It is certainly not in the interests of Spain to allow Catalonia to go its own way.  The region is the economic powerhouse in Spain.  It’s population makes up around 16% of the Spanish population, but nearly 20% of the country’s GDP and accounts for over 25% of its exports, and over 20% of foreign investment.  If independent, Catalonia would rank in world wealth terms somewhere between Denmark and Finland.  Barcelona is a major tourist city, it was the host of the 1992 Summer Olympic Games and today is the world’s fourth largest cruise ship destination. Its port is the biggest in the Mediterranean and the city has a fine reputation as a business-friendly city with two top business schools, the ESADE  and IESE. Nevertheless a Catalonia-free Spain would still be the fourth largest economy in the Eurozone, with only Germany, France and Italy ahead of it. 

 

Spain would undoubtedly resist Catalonia becoming a member of the EU if it ever became independent, assuming that Catalonia would be thrown out upon independence – which Madrid would support.  An independent Catalonia would prove to be a direct threat to the economic success of Spain and its departure from Spain and possibly the EU would only help to cause more disruption and uncertainty in the EU and the eurozone.

 

Meanwhile, the EU has suggested it will not get involved in the independence question in Spain.  A European Commission spokesperson told reporters: “The commission only has the powers which are given to it and when it comes to this position we have a position which goes back to 2004. It is not an improvised position; it is the result of the competences that we have a position that has been expressed by the President: we must respect the constitutional order and the legal framework of each member state.”  The EU is siding with the government in Madrid on the basis that the referendum is illegal under the constitution of Spain.

 

Screenshot_1The US president, Donald Trump, has also expressed his opinion on the issue – again siding with the Madrid government and the status quo.  The president, who met the Spanish prime minister at the White House four days ago (right), has said that Catalonia should remain “united” with Spain.  Despite confusing the prime minister for a president, Mr Trump said at a joint press conference with Mr Rajoy after their meeting that he “thinks Spain is a great country and it should be united.” He continued by suggesting: “If you [the Catalan people] have accurate numbers and polling, you would see they love Spain. It would be foolish not to.”

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