Madrid's Fight

From the BBC:
"Artur Mas: Catalan president appears in Barcelona court"

 

Catalan President Artur Mas has appeared in court in Barcelona for organising an independence vote.

Thousands of supporters sang the Catalan anthem and chanted "Down with Spanish justice" outside the court as he faced charges of disobeying a court ban on the November 2014 vote. Hundreds of regional mayors joined the protest at the Catalonia Supreme Court. About 80% of people backed Catalan independence from Spain in the non-binding vote.  However turnout in Spain's north-eastern region was not high, with only 2.2 million people voting out of an electorate of more than five million. Spain's central government in Madrid has pledged to challenge any unilateral moves towards independence in court, arguing such actions are against the constitution. National polls in Spain are to be held on 20 December. The Catalan leader's supporters complain the judicial case against him and two colleagues is politically motivated. As well as civil disobedience, he faces charges of misusing public funds for the vote. He told the court he was completely responsible for the vote but said: "I don't understand why I'm here giving explanations." Last month, pro-independence parties in Catalonia won a majority in regional elections but fell short of securing 50% of the vote.

 

^ The actions of the Spanish Government in Madrid towards Mas just shows how scared Madrid is about loosing rich Catalonia. Spain has been in an economic crisis for years and has received bailouts from other EU member-states. Catalonia is one of the most prosperous regions and helps pay for the other, poorer regions. Spain should follow the UK's and Canada's approach: allow Quebec and Scotland to vote for independence and abide by the results. Both London and Ottawa officially agreed to follow the results of the vote and both Quebec and Scotland voted to remain part of their respected countries. Madrid is doing just the opposite and are pushing more and more Catalans to want independence than if the vote was sanctioned. ^

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34536973