Scotland Independence Referendum The View From Catalonia World News Theguardian Com

9/11/14 9:33 a.m. Scotland independence referendum: the view from Catalonia | World news | theguardian.
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Scotland independence
referendum: the view from
Catalonia
Catalans campaigning for their own
independence vote are inspired by what they see
in Scotland - no matter which way the vote goes
on 19 September
Are you taking part in the Catalan
demonstration?
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James Walsh
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theguardian.com, Thursday 11 September 2014 07.39 EDT
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9/11/14 9:33 a.m. Scotland independence referendum: the view from Catalonia | World news | theguardian.com
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It was already clear the Scottish independence debate
was being watched closely in Catalonia, but this writer
didnt realise quite how closely until he posted a tweet
of a political cartoon by Kap (Jaume Capdevila)
comparing the two situations, which was then furiously
retweeted and debated.
And the view from Catalonia #indyref
6:27 AM - 1 Sep 2014
James Walsh
@jamesofwalsh
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On Thursday hundreds of thousands of people will
take part in a V-shaped demonstration in Barcelona,
organised by supporters of Catalan independence as
a crucial step in emphasising the legitimacy of a vote
on self-determination taking place in November - but
Society
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As in Scotland, so
in Catalonia
Xavier Trias:
Immediately after
the Scottish
referendum, we
the Catalan
people will issue a
decree calling for
our own vote
and we demand
that Madrid
respect it
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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banned by the Spanish authorities. And Catalans
seeking a secession vote are inspired by what they
see happening in Britain.
The UK is willing to let Scotland vote and Catalonia is
refused that right by the Spanish, says Liz Castro, an
author and publisher who divides her time between
Massachusetts and Barcelona. Catalans look to the
Scotland-UK question with a sense of envy and
admiration, theyre constantly talking about the quality
of the democracy there. Personally, I wonder if its a
bit romanticized and idealized. But, the truth is that
[people in Scotland] all will vote on September 18th,
and Catalans are still debating what we will do when
they tell us we cant.
If Yes won in Scotland, the Catalan independence
movement would become stronger, says Eullia Sol-
i-Toms, a political scientist from Barcelona. Spain
would be terrified and would increase the pressure on
Catalonia as well as strongly emphasise the refusal of
the referendum.
Will this pressure lead to the granting of a secession
vote in Catalonia? This scenario doesnt seem likely
from the perspective of Christopher Carnie, Scottish
but resident in Catalonia since 1998. There is very
little prospect that Madrid will allow the Catalans to
vote in the foreseeable future despite the
determination of Artur Mas. The campaigns are, as a
result, very different with the Catalans forced to focus
on process while the Scots can imagine a new
country, and then make that a reality.
A Yes vote in Scotland wont change anything here,
agrees lex Sancliment, of the Catalans for Yes
campaign. The Spanish Government will continue
saying the Constitution prohibits any consultation or
referendum in an autonomous community.
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A decorated balcony located in the 29th section of Via Catalana in
Barcelona Photograph: Socials Senyor Carles/GuardianWitness
When asked to compare the cases for Catalan and
Scottish independence, Catalan Yes campaigners
focused on historical and economic reasons, but also
emphasised the cultural differences. Most Scottish
dont speak Gaelic while almost 50% of the Catalan
population (me included) have Catalan as our mother
tongue, and almost everybody can speak it, says
Jordi Cruz, a meteorologist from Barcelona. To be
honest, I think Catalans have more reasons to
become independent than Scottish have.
Llus Vias Castell, 23, from Figueres, sees
similarities in the campaigns. They are both non-
violent, and theyve both acquired momentum during
the last decade. There wasnt a mainstream
independence movement either in Scotland or
Catalonia during the 1990s. Scots didnt even have
their devolved parliament. And theres the intention to
link social progress to independence. That is, creating
a new country to secure a fairer and more just
society.
Robert Rudnicki, from Rugby but resident in Catalonia
for the past three years, also sees parallels, if more
worrying ones. If the Yes vote succeeds both nations
will be politically independent, but without control over
their monetary policy. The Scots have vowed to keep
the pound, which may or may not be allowed to
happen, but even if they do they have no singular
monetary policy, that will still live in London, but
without any Scottish voices influencing it.
For both, EU membership would likely mean
reapplying, which could take years, particularly as
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Spain or the UK can veto.
But the rhetoric around EU entry is an aspect that
attracts derision from some pro-independence
quarters. One of the Spanish governments threats is
that a free Catalonia would be automatically tossed
out of the EU forever and would wander through
outer space, says Michael Strubell, a recently retired
university lecturer from Barcelona. These words were
uttered not by a Spanish extreme nationalist or a
drunken taxi driver, but by Spains minister for foreign
affairs.
For Catalans, for Scotland to win its independence
would be an incredible morale booster, says Castro.
If it loses, I think people will shake it off and point to
the differences. However, the really significant
advantage to Scotland going first is that if it wins, the
EU will have to act, and countries will begin to
recognize it, and then Spain will lose its only weapon:
fear.
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All comments Staff replies Guardian picks
jordif
Wow! Talk about a one-sided article. So the author could not find a single one of the
over 50% of Catalans who - according to all credible polls - reject independence? Not
a single one? Because there are millions of them.
As a Catalan who is actually sympathetic to the aspirations that some of my fellow
Catalans have regarding the independence of our region, I still find it quite amazing
that the Guardian seems to always do its best to only find pro-independence voices
for this type of "articles". And of course it is nice to see that the Guardian still
manages to throw the odd Scottish or Irish voice into the mix.
Perhaps it should be pointed out that only two parties with political representation in
our current regional parliament ran on a pro-independence manifesto in the last
election? (ERC and CUP). Some other parties, of course, ran on a 'right to decide'
manifesto, most notably CiU. Since this doesn't exist as a legal term, these parties
should either explicitly run on a pro-independence manifesto or not use fluffy terms
such as 'right to decide', which, once again, doesn't exist.
11 September 2014 1:19pm
18
Guardian staff
jameswalsh jordif
Well, the article was about what people campaigning for independence in
Catalonia think about the Scottish campaign. Very happy to hear the other
side of the story here in the comments.
11 September 2014 1:34pm
7
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