Majority of Catalans favoring secession?

The turnout in an unofficial referendum on Sunday on whether Catalonia should secede from Spain fell short of organizers' hopes, reports said. But those who did show up at the polling stations voted in favor of the region's independence. Majority of Catalans favoring secession? About 30 percent of 700,000 eligible voters in 170 towns and villages in Catalonia voted on the question of whether Catalonia should become an independent state within the EU, the organizers said, Reuters reports. The campaign organizers are Catalan nationalists who initially thought that it would be a success if 40 percent of Catalonia’s population voted in the referendum which the Spanish government dismissed as illegitimate. But they hope to persuade the big Catalan political parties to organize another, official referendum about the secession. Early results showed that almost 95 percent of those who voted wanted Catalonia to leave Spain. "This has been a powerful event that is going to push us toward independence," referendum campaign spokesman Uriel Beltran told Reuters. Catalan regional elections are due by the end of 2010, and any surge in separatist sentiment would be a serious problem for the government of socialist prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, which is already having huge economical problems, the news agency reported. Public opinion surveys have showed different results considering that Catalonia has had a high level of autonomy since 2006. Unlike during the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco (1939-1975) when the Catalan language was forbidden, it is now the official language used in schools and government bureaus. Three years ago Catalonians voted for the new statute which regulates relations between Catalonia and Spain and contains a preamble defining Catalonia as nation. The statute was adopted by the parliaments of Catalonia and Spain and was signed by the King Juan Carlos. This gave Catalonia higher judicial authorities and higher share of incomes. For the majority of moderate Catalonians this was enough, but the separatist sentiment has been stirred by rumors that Spain's Constitutional Court will reject much of the region's new statute. Many of seven million Catalonians think that too much money is being taken from the wealthiest Spanish region and being re-directed to the poor parts of Spain, while the government in Madrid is not reciprocating with investments, Reuters said. Spain is one of the EU countries which have not recognized the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence and this country spoke against the ethnic Albanian proclamation during the debate about the legality of the act at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos was in Belgrade over the weekend where he spoke about peace and stability based on respect of international law, and guaranteed by dialogue and cooperation. (Beta/AP)

Majority of Catalans favoring secession?

About 30 percent of 700,000 eligible voters in 170 towns and villages in Catalonia voted on the question of whether Catalonia should become an independent state within the EU, the organizers said, Reuters reports.

The campaign organizers are Catalan nationalists who initially thought that it would be a success if 40 percent of Catalonia’s population voted in the referendum which the Spanish government dismissed as illegitimate.

But they hope to persuade the big Catalan political parties to organize another, official referendum about the secession.

Early results showed that almost 95 percent of those who voted wanted Catalonia to leave Spain.

"This has been a powerful event that is going to push us toward independence," referendum campaign spokesman Uriel Beltran told Reuters.

Catalan regional elections are due by the end of 2010, and any surge in separatist sentiment would be a serious problem for the government of socialist prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, which is already having huge economical problems, the news agency reported.

Public opinion surveys have showed different results considering that Catalonia has had a high level of autonomy since 2006.

Unlike during the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco (1939-1975) when the Catalan language was forbidden, it is now the official language used in schools and government bureaus.

Three years ago Catalonians voted for the new statute which regulates relations between Catalonia and Spain and contains a preamble defining Catalonia as nation.

The statute was adopted by the parliaments of Catalonia and Spain and was signed by the King Juan Carlos.

This gave Catalonia higher judicial authorities and higher share of incomes.

For the majority of moderate Catalonians this was enough, but the separatist sentiment has been stirred by rumors that Spain's Constitutional Court will reject much of the region's new statute.

Many of seven million Catalonians think that too much money is being taken from the wealthiest Spanish region and being re-directed to the poor parts of Spain, while the government in Madrid is not reciprocating with investments, Reuters said.

Spain is one of the EU countries which have not recognized the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence and this country spoke against the ethnic Albanian proclamation during the debate about the legality of the act at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos was in Belgrade over the weekend where he spoke about peace and stability based on respect of international law, and guaranteed by dialogue and cooperation.