Catalonia declared a Nation.....

azzuri · Catalonia declared a Nation.....

see - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/m...eet=/news/2005/11/04/ixworld.html

Catalonia wins nation status

Spain's parliament has approved plans to give Catalonia nation status, but the Right-wing opposition has claimed the move is "unconstitutional" and could lead to the "Balkanisation" of Spain.

After a heated 12-hour debate that was broadcast live on television, the deputies voted by 197 to 146 in favour of the changes.

But the plan has to be amended to comply with Spain's constitution - a process that is expected to drag on for months.

The proposals would amend Catalonia's 1979 autonomy statute by calling it a nation and giving it the power to change laws passed by parliament.

Like the Basque country and Navarro region, it would also be able to directly collect taxes.

The ruling Socialist party of Jose Luis Zapatero, the prime minister, which was backed by regional and nationalist groups, voted in favour.

They said the change was a logical continuation of the move towards autonomy that began after the death of General Franco, in 1975.

But Jose Maria Aznar, the former prime minister, said it created "a real risk of a national break-up".

That view reflects recent public opinion polls and is also held by several church leaders.

Mariano Rajoy, the leader of the Right-wing Popular party, said that the proposal "turns its back on the constitution" and threatens Spain's "unity".

Mr Zapatero has promised to make some amendments but he has little room for manoeuvre.

He pledged to address Catalonia's status before last year's elections in exchange for the coalition support of Catalonian parties. If he upsets them, he risks a vote of no confidence.

SLG

This is good news. I suppose it gives Catalonia the status similar to that of Scotland - a nation within a state. Of course the Catalan parliament has much more power than the Scottish. Presumably Catalan nationalist will continue to press for a full independence.

I think only full independence would make the headlines and have an impact here though.

trueblue

good for them. unfortunately their campaigns will always be blighted by the cowardice of eta.

Rinty · b

trueblue · Re: b

parkhead_rfb

eta want to free the basque trueblue not catalonia Laughing

back to the map my friend. do you similarly condemn the spanish governments suppression of the basque youth movement and the banning of the basque nationalists party Batasuna and that parties newspaper? how can you insist people use democratic methods then refuse them there democratic right to take part! it should also be noted that there is significant evidence that there is a shadowy organisation GLA has been onvolved in the assisination of nationalist activists.

state murder is alive and well in many european countries it seems!

SLG

And the British state is not much better than the Spanish. They might have been to scared to ban the SNP, but the state aparatus has been used to undermine the SNP all the way. Some of this is coming out now due to the FOI, other files remain un-released.