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This afternoon, Catalonia declared independence. At the same time, Spain invoked article 155, to strip Catalonia from its governing powers putting it under direct rule from the federal government. A vote for independence was raised in Catalonian parliament, with part of parliament leaving before the vote on independence started. The motion declaring independence was approved with 70 in favor, 10 against, and two abstentions of the normal 135 total.
From RT: https://www.rt.com/news/407956-catalan-parliament-votes-independence/
From Aljazeera: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/catalan-parliament-begins-vote-independence-171027115908493.html
From BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41780116
It will be interesting to see how things unfold. In my opinion, Madrid using violence to stop a referendum gave it the legality they later claim the referendum didn't have. The lack of dialogue paved the way into the only possible outcome, Catalonia declaring independence and Madrid denying it. Whatever happens next, I hope will be peaceful. As to how the EU reacts, I'm hoping they ask for an official referendum, and whatever the outcome, pledges that both Catalonia and Spain will be able to remain in the EU if they desire. That may release tensions a bit.
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday October 28 2017, @12:29AM (1 child)
Full Disclosure: I've never been to Europe and don't know shit about it. However, I have friends and family who have/do.
So my comment is basically approaching the issue from a common simpleton's perspective. People tend to like to see underdogs fight "the man" and win, so the knee-jerk reaction of uninformed Gen-X'ers through Gen-Z'ers is to support Catalonian independence. A respected family member, who studied abroad in Spain for a year (as well as later serving in the Peace Corps throughout Latin America), told me that was is going on is just angry noise and with very little planning or strategy behind it, and that their independence is illegitimate and unlawful.
Others have suggested that it's more of an Arab Spring-style situation in which the Catalonians are being rabble-roused by exterior meddlers as well as interior tumult. Personally, as an uninformed plebe, I support any province's efforts towards independence but only if it is an internal matter between the country and the province and not stirred by external meddling (of course being totally free of any external meddling is impossible nowadays, but you get what I mean), but Antifa comes to mind in that a lot of the protests seem to be mostly angry noise and with little foresight.
(Score: 0, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 28 2017, @08:30AM
So shut the fuck up about which you have no knowledge or understanding, Eth! Do you want to end up being Runaway? Think about it, a fate worse than death?