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CATALAN PARTIES PUSHING for a referendum on breaking away from Spain won strong backing in an election Sunday, while voters punished the rich region’s leader Artur Mas, forcing him to share power.
The result could set Catalonia up for a clash with Spain’s central government, already riled by Mas’s push for greater self-determination as Spain fights to avoid getting bailed out by its EU neighbours.
But it was unclear how Mas would move forward after he saw his support plunge in favour of rival parties that share his desire for some kind of referendum but not all his political objectives.
Mas’s centre-right Convergence and Union alliance (CiU) won the vote, but its share of the parliamentary seats plunged to 50 from 62, while left-wing nationalists ERC surged to 21 seats from 10, official results showed.
“We are clearly the only force that can lead this government, but we cannot lead it alone. We need shared responsibility,” Mas told supporters in Barcelona afterwards.
“The presidency must be taken up, but we will also have to reflect along with other forces,” said Mas, who had vowed to hold a referendum on “self-determination” if Sunday’s vote gave him a strong mandate.
Though a humiliating setback to Mas, who called the election two years early after Madrid rejected his demands for greater fiscal powers, the vote gave forces favouring Catalan statehood a commanding majority overall in the 135-seat parliament.
“Support for sovereignty still comes out stronger because the ERC wins extraordinary force,” said one of Mas’s supporters, Jordi Fiol, 58, waiting for the CiU leader to appear Sunday evening at Barcelona’s luxury Majestic hotel.
“What the people really wanted was a pro-sovereignty majority, more than a victory by one party or another,” said another, Laia Bartomeus, a 32-year-old lawyer.
The Socialists, the main opposition party nationally, came third in Catalonia as their share fell to 20 seats from 28 and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s Popular Party scored 19.
The prospect of a break-up of Spain had overwhelmed debate about the region’s sky-high public debt, savage spending cuts, unemployment and recession.
From windows and balconies hung the red-and-yellow striped flag of Catalonia and the pro-independence flag that also incorporates a blue square with a white star.
An independent Catalonia seemed far off, however.
Rajoy says a referendum on self-determination would flout the constitution and hurt all Spaniards who are already suffering in a recession with the unemployment rate higher than 25 percent.
Catalonia, which traces its origins back more than a millennium, is proud of its language and culture, both of which were suppressed under the rule of General Francisco Franco, who died in 1975.
Mas, like many Catalans, accuses Madrid of raising far more in taxes from the region than it returns, and estimates the gap, or fiscal deficit, at €16 billion a year — a figure Madrid disputes.
“After he wins, I would like President Mas to face up to Madrid, so they give us back the money they owe us, and call a referendum,” said one voter, Gerard Ruiz, 38, a metal worker.
“Now we have started out on this road, we have to go all the way. We want to be an independent people.”
Catalans would vote in favour of a referendum on self-determination by 46 percent against 42 percent, according to a survey last weekend in leading daily El Pais.
The region of 7.5 million people accounts for more than one-fifth of Spain’s economic output and a quarter of its exports, and boasts one of the world’s best football teams, Barcelona FC.
But Catalonia also has a 44-billion-euro debt, equal to one-fifth of its output, and was forced to turn to Madrid this year for more than five billion euros to help make the payments.
For Pedro Nueno, an economist at IESE business school, the result “shows that people are angry because none of the politicians has put forward a clear plan to deal with our country’s serious problems: debt, unemployment, finance.”
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A true gentleman. A selfless man who gave of his time to help protect the lives of others.
He will be sorely missed.
Condolences to his wife and children.
Those bikers and their clubs do a fantastic amount of work for charities . this will be a very sad time for the poor man’s family and his biker club family too .
RIP buddy. The world has truly lost one of its good guys. You are going to be missed so much :-(
The charity biking world has lost a true great R.I.P
They give up they’re holiday weekend to help out our charity and it ends in tragedy. Devastation to all concerned..
Sincere condolences to his family, his many many friends and fellow bikers on the run.
RiP , a Hero to us.
This man is an absolute legend in the motorcycle and charity set. Despite his young age he raised something in the range 1.5 million.
He was always there to help any charity needing stewards on bikes for running races, for walking events, for cycling event and biker events.. If he wasn’t available he Had a huge ring of friends only too happy to don their gear and helmets and give up their time. Never even excepting petrol money.
So sad to hear of someone being killed when out helping others. My heart goes out to this man’s family, his biker family and to the driver of the car.
The people who put red thumbs to most of these comments should be locked away in a psychiatric hospital.. Sick c-nts.. May he rest in peace and given a good send off…
Debbie , it’s sometimes best to ignore those red thumbs .
I understand your point but how dare you say they should be locked up in a psychiatric hospital? I am so fed up of ignorant creatures like you not knowing the difference between mentally ill people and people who are bad. Those who end up in psychiatric hospitals are unwell. The majority wouldn’t harm anyone. Some might harm themselves. Perhaps you need a bit of education on the difference between mental illness and badness.
RIP condolences to family and friends.
Who on earth would red thumb this comment? !
Arse4oles red thumb these articles and loving comments.
I knew him well and am truly shocked and saddened. He was motorc out rider/ marshal on many charity cycles including Tour de Munster, Tour de Leinster and Galway cycle (Maynooth college) RIP buddy.
Down Syndrome Ireland issued a statement in which they paid tribute to th Mr Lynam.
“It is with inexpressible grief that we learned of the death today of our dear friend and colleague Aidan Lynam,” the statement read.
“Aidan’s untimely death occurred in Clare while participating in our annual motorcycle fundraiser Rev-up4DSI.
“Rev-up4DSI was the brainchild of Aidan’s, and poignantly this year marked the 10th anniversary of this event, which through Aidan and his fellow motorcyclists has raised over €1.6 million for Down Syndrome Ireland.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with our dear friend and colleague, his wife Nikki and their three children, Robyn, Jake and Harry and all his loved ones.
“Aidan was a much loved and valued senior member of our team at Down Syndrome Ireland, committed to his family and his work and all of our hearts are simply broken as we struggle to come to terms with this great loss.”
I’m so saddened to hear this news. A gent with a great heart.
RIP to this man and sincere condolences to his family. Every motor cyclist should join these bikers on their journey home tomorrow as a show of respect and solidarity with the man who lost his life while supporting a wonderful charity. I know this man been involved in raising hundreds of thousands of euro for Down Syndrome Ireland, it will be a sad ride home tomorrow for his biker family
A true loss that will resonate far and wide with numerous charities and the biking world… An utter gent…
RIP
RIP condolences to the family.
Great people – great loss !
R.I.P
RIP, truly an awful tragedy. My thoughts to his family, club, and anyone else involved from the emergency services to the car driver.
So shocked to read this. Aidan’s tweet to me was so positive and I could see he was looking forward to the trip through Co. Clare. I’m sure the people of the county will join with me in offering our heartfelt condolences to Aidan’s family, friends and the people of Downs Syndrome Ireland on their loss. This is not the way a charity run should end. Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a Anam.
As a fellow biker and a dad of 3 my heart goes out to his family.
Rest in peace buddy.
3 young kids have lost their dad and so many red thumbs on rip comments.
Shame on you!!!
May he Rest In peace. Deepest condolences to his family, friends and his biker family.
May he rest in peace .i passed them earlier this morning parked up in Quilty for a pit stop .deepest sympathy to all his family and friends .
RIP. Please look out for bikers on the road.
Utterly tragic. I’m lost for words. Rest in peace man.
RIP
Seen the lads on their bikes out early this morning on the Burren and a little later up at the Cliffs of mohar waving to all on their travels
God’s speed on your last one
Very very sad loss to the biking community and charity world. May he rest in peace and safe journey home to the rest of the riders on your way home
Folks red thumbs come from people scrolling through the comments with their phone. I think I red thumbed at least five comments.
Why am I saying this? Because Aidan Lynam was my friend, my mentor, my hero. He was also a king on social media and yet anyone that knew him will tell you that he was a disaster when it came to technology. He is laughing his ass off at us all and I know he would be telling us all to HTFU even though I know what he went through when we lost Martin Finnegan seven years ago this weekend.
I know the two of you will be having great spins up there probably trying to catch Joey.
Well for a man who was a social media king, he certainly seems to have broken the internet in Ireland anyway. From every article I’ve read he sounds like he was an Angel in leathers. I’m very sorry for your loss.
Condolences to his family, friends and all those who were taking part in the charity rally.
He was a true gentleman and great ambassador for Down Syndrome Ireland. May he rest in peace.
So long Aidan we in DSI will miss you :(
Helped so many people be safe on the roads . A great man . God bless
Desperately sad. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
RIP a true gentleman, thoughts and prayers with his family.
Lost for words, its an unbelievable tragedy. Condolences to all involved.
r.i.p
Losing people such as him is sad indeed.
RIP Aidan
Heard him speak on the Phil Cauley show on Today FM only yesterday. Will be missed desperately by those who love him. Ride on!
RIP Aidan x True gentleman and you will be missed dearly xx
R.I.P. its v v dicey on the roads for non vehicle road users, a tragedy.
Why the red thumbs? This gentlemans death is a tragedy. Roads are very unsafe for mototcyclists these days. I am sorry to admit it but i gave up my wheels some time ago, too frightened to carry on. May God bless & comfort his family & friends. RIP.
@Aoife – go back and read your own comment. It displays an ignorance of what actually happened.
What’s a “non-vehicle road user”?
Tragic, but if it’s any small consolation to his friends and family he died while doing something he loved and probably instantly
R.I.P another fallen brother.GBNF and sincere condolences to his family from unfixables MCC xxx
RIP Aidan only the good die young, he will be sorely missed condolences to his wife and children,.
Rip …
Deeply sorry to hear this. Glad that I have blood in Thursday as I feel that I did my tiny bit that could have helped out. If your reading this and your not a blood donor and organ donor, bows the time to start .
RIP to Aidan…condolences to family and friends … We’ve lost a good guy folks…
R.I.P another fallen brother G.B.N.F sincere condolances to his family from unfixables MCC xxxxxx
Sad loss for Aidan’s family and work mates.
On a lighter note Aidan was a gift with a camera, as he said to me once “you get round the bend corky & I’ll make you look fast”
A true gent
RIP Boy!!!!!
Trolls?
RIP Aidan Lynam
RIP,
Heartbreaking news.. RIP x
A gentleman and Hero, RIP youngman xoxo prayers to your beautiful family
Sorry to hear about yet another loss, is it a year since motorbike Marshall was lost on the suicide cycle? read’s like he was some gent and helping others came naturally. R.I.P.
Its almost exactly a year. The cycle for suicide is on this week. R.I.P
@John Moylan. Sincere apologies my error. No offence intended to you, other contributors, the family & friends of the deceased. R.I.P.
May the good Lord have mercy on his soul and comfort his family at this sad time
RIP Magnet
So sad ! Thoughts r with his family & friends x
Think bike, look twice! RIP
This gentlemans death is a tragedy. Roads are very unsafe for mototcyclists these days. He was motorc out rider/ marshal on many charity cycles including Tour de Munster, Tour de Leinster and Galway cycle (Maynooth college) RIP buddy.
“Rev-up4DSI was the brainchild of Aidan’s, and poignantly this year marked the 10th anniversary of this event, which through Aidan and his fellow motorcyclists has raised over €1.6 million for Down Syndrome Ireland.”
so so sad for u. Now every want to a good Road Bike. This kind of bike is obviously the quickest option for road bike cycling as well as may be the bike of preference for racing & most skilled road bike cycling enthusiasts. http://empireroadbikes.com/
RIP. Didn’t know the man but horrific news for all concerned.
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