Spain's Rejection

From the BBC:

"Spain to block Catalonia independence referendum"

The Spanish government has vowed to block plans by parties in Catalonia to hold a referendum on independence on 9 November of next year. "The poll will not be held," Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon told journalists moments after Catalonia's President, Artur Mas, announced a deal. Mr Mas said agreement had been reached on the date and on two questions. Voters would be asked if they wanted Catalonia to be a state and if they wanted it to be an independent state.  Mr Mas announced that an agreement had been reached in principle and had still to be approved formally by the parties internally.  Both Spain's ruling conservatives, the Popular Party of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, and the Socialist opposition have long made it clear that they oppose a referendum. Under the current Spanish constitution, referendums can only be called by the national government in Madrid, not by the governments of Spain's 17 autonomous communities, of which Catalonia is one, the BBC's Tom Burridge reports from Madrid. Mr Mas has said that "there is time to comply with laws and democratic processes".  But for that to happen, Spain's national parliament would need to approve a change in the Spanish constitution before next November, and that looks impossible given the opposition in Madrid, our correspondent adds. Catalonia is one of Spain's most developed regions, with a population of 7.5 million. It already has a wide degree of autonomy but the recent economic crisis has fuelled Catalan nationalism. In September supporters of independence formed a human chain across the region. Mr Mas has previously said that if Madrid blocks a referendum, he will turn regional elections - due in 2016 - into a vote on independence. Opinion polls suggest Catalans are evenly split over independence.The EU and Nato have warned that Catalonia would be excluded if it broke away from Spain. Nationalists in another Spanish region, the Basque Country, won regional elections there last year.

^ I don't understand why the Spanish Government is so against holding a referendum. Even Canada allowed Quebec to hold two of them in 1980 and 1995 and the voters there voted to stay with Canada. The UK is letting Scotland hold their own in a few years. Spain used to be a dictatorship (under Franco) and it seems they are slowly moving back in time. Spain also seems to be more aggressive lately with Catalonia and against the British in Gibraltar. I have relatives in Catalonia (and in Quebec) and think that any region that wants to vote to become independent should hold that vote and if the independence answer wins then they should be allowed to leave. The majority of regions wouldn't survive becoming independent, but they should be given the choice. The same for any US state that wants to leave (some for the first time and others for a second.)  Forcing regions to remain just to keep the status quo is foolish. ^

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25353086