CATALAN

INDEPENDENCE
MOVEMENT
Emilio Valadez Mena, Gerardo Faz, Adrián Zárate,
Javier Burgos y Mauricio MartindeAlba
What is
Catalonia?
Catalonia is a semi-autonomous
region in north-east Spain with a
distinct history dating back
almost 1,000 years.
The wealthy region has about 7.5
million people, with their own
language, parliament, flag and
anthem.

Catalonia also has its own police

force and controls some of its
public services.
Why the controversy?

Catalan nationalists have long complained that their

region sends too much money to poorer parts of
Spain, as taxes are controlled by Madrid.
They also say Spain's changes to their autonomous
status in 2010 undermined Catalan identity.
In a referendum on 1 October 2017, declared illegal
by Spain's Constitutional Court, about 90% of
Catalan voters backed independence. But
turnout was only 43%.

There were clashes when Spanish national police t

ried to prevent people voting
.
After voting…

The ruling separatists in the Catalan parliament then declared

independence on 27 October.

Angered by that, Madrid imposed direct rule by invoking Article

155 of the constitution - a first for Spain.

The Spanish government sacked the Catalan leaders, dissolved

parliament and called a snap regional election on 21
December 2017, which nationalist parties won.

Carles Puigdemont, the former Catalan president, fled but is wa

nted in Spain accused of rebellion
, as are four who fled with him
In June 2018, 
Catalan nationalists regained control of the region from M
adrid's direct rule after a new government was sworn in
.
Recent News

■ 9 people in Barcelona have been arrested, due to suspicion of them being linked to
terrorism.
■ They now face charges of “rebellion, terrorism and possession of explosives” as said by
the authorities.
■ Audiencia Nacional instructed the civil guard to take care of the arrests, Audiencia
Nacional deals with serious offences such as terrorism, drug smuggling and organised
crime.
■ Police said they believed the activists were planning to carry out sabotage and violent
attacks on 1 October, the second anniversary of the illegal referendum on independence
So will Catalonia become independent?

Possibly, but certainly not for a long time. First

comes the difficult task of forming a Catalan
coalition government.

The three separatist parties have struggled to form

one, with their main leaders either in prison or in
self-imposed exile.

IT IS VERY POSSIBLE!!!