Catalan Government pushes for independence referendum

The Catalan Government decided on Tuesday to formally request negotiations with the Spanish government on the terms and conditions for carrying out the independence referendum. 

In the next few days, the Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, will send a letter to the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, which will include the text approved on Tuesday at the Executive Council of the Catalan government, the Catalan Minister of Presidency and Government Spokesperson, Neus Munté, explained in declarations to the press.

The Catalan Government avoided setting a deadline for getting a response from the Spanish government and expects a “clear” answer “reflecting the same civilized attitude as the Catalan government” and “an open mind and statesmanship,” Munté added. The Spanish Vice President, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, said that Madrid “will prevent the referendum” because the Spanish state has the “power” to do so, as it represents, she argued, “democracy”. 

Pro-independence feeling has surged in Catalonia in recent years, fanned by disagreements with the conservative central government and Spain's sharp economic downturn, which has left nearly one in four people out of work, despite a slow recovery in recent months.

During a symbolic independence referendum held in November 2014, which the top court in Spain ruled unconstitutional, only 1.9 million out of 6.3 million potential voters cast their ballot in favour of secession.

Before the elections, secessionist had announced their intention to carry on with the breakaway process and declare independence within 18 months, should they earn an absolute majority.

Their plans include approving a Catalan constitution, building institutions like an army, central bank, a judicial system and a tax collection agency.

In the most extreme scenario, the Spanish government could activate Article 155 of the constitution, suspending Catalan autonomy, although this would be under very exceptional circumstances.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said on 21 May that the “threat’s and “blackmail” from the Catalan regional government were “inadmissible”. “It will never come into effect, and national sovereignty will continue”, he said.

According to a poll commissioned by Madrid-based newspaper El Pais, only 35% of Catalans support this option, with 61% rejecting it outright. Furthermore, 67% of voters in the northeastern region are opposed to unilateral independence without any kind of debate in the Catalan regional parliament.