VOTERS IN THE SPANISH region of Catalonia are today going to the polls in a regional election which could kickstart a long and difficult journey towards full independence from Spain.
Voters will elect politicians to the regional assembly in a snap election, with the incumbent nationalist president Artur Mas promising a referendum on full independence if he wins another term.
Mas, whose Democratic Convergence of Catalonia party currently has 62 seats in the 135-member parliament, could see his party’s share of the vote hold steady – but the People’s Party, led by national prime minister Mariano Rajoy, faces a fight for second place.
A referendum on Catalan independence would probably be approved, with a recent poll by El Pais showing a 46-42 margin in favour of independence.
However, the result of any referendum could not be binding unless Spain itself permits the breakaway – something which is unlikely for the moment, given the political circumstances elsewhere in the country.
Rajoy claims a regional secession would be in breach of the constitution, and would also be hurtful to the country’s chances of emerging from its current economic slump – particularly as Catalonia asked Spain for a €5 billion bailout to help pay its debts earlier this year.
However, many Catalans blame Spain for the region’s own problems, and argue that the region is a net contributor to the Spanish economy – though this is disputed by Madrid.
The elections – which were not required for two years – were called when Mas demanded extra financial autonomy from Spain, a request angrily rebuffed by Rajoy.
Catalonia was part of the Aragon region which was led by King Ferdinand when he married Queen Isabella of Castile in 1469 – a marriage which united the crowns of the two regions and meant the creation of a single Kingdom of Spain.
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