CATALONIA -- Schottland und Katalonien: Der Herbst der Separatisten | ZEIT ONLINE
Scotland and Catalonia
The Fall of the separatists
Two independence referendums could change the EU. What do Scotland and Catalonia, and it really comes to the showdown?
Prehistory: Why be independent?
Scotland and the British Crown actually fought throughout the entire Middle Ages. Until both sides signed an agreement in 1707 and merged with the United Kingdom. Scotland decided mainly from lack of money to take this step. today the Scots have a higher per capita income than other inhabitants of the island. For years, Scottish Nationalists set for a greater independence.
In 1997 she reached a referendum that Edinburgh was again awarded a
parliament and considerable autonomy in education, health, environmental
policy and the judiciary.
Fuelled by good election results, the Scottish National Party wants to
go one step further and vote the people about the complete independence
from Great Britain (SNP).
She speaks of "choice between the future and stop": The main argument:
The Scots could best alone decide how to distribute their wealth.
The Kingdom of Catalonia -Aragón has long been one of the major Mediterranean powers. In 1714 the Catalans lost their power to the Spanish crown. Of this, say the Catalans, the region has never recovered.
At the beginning of the 20th century forbade the Spanish dictator
Franco any regional identity, the four Spanish regional languages -
including Catalan - could no longer be spoken. The Catalans say they feel culturally remote central Spain, they had their own "nation".
After the death of Franco also a far-reaching autonomy statute for
Catalonia was formulated in the first democratic constitution in 1978,
the region has, for example, their own police force. However Catalonia must not call "nation". The rich region must also continue to pay taxes to the central government in Madrid. 16 billion euros are in this year, or 8 percent of the Catalan GDP, argue the separatists. During the crisis, we have to so little money for their own needs.
Elimination of the home: Is that even possible?
In Scotland, the separatists reached on 15 October 2012, a major milestone.
At that time, the Scottish Minister Alex Salmond and British Prime
Minister David Cameron signed the agreement of Edinburgh, is set in that
the Scots in 2014 must hold a referendum on independence . Irrespective of the outcome they wanted in the future "constructive" work together.
In January 2013, the Scottish Parliament agreed on the question that is
presented to the approximately four million eligible voters in a few
weeks: "Should Scotland be independent of country Yes / No?." Even 16 and 17 year old Scots should co-decide about their future on 18 September.
The goal of the movement is to establish an independent "future state",
already on 24 January 2016, the first Independence Day to be
celebrated. The Scottish referendum is therefore perfectly legal.
If the four million voters for independence, would begin in the fall of
protracted negotiations over the future of the political relationship
between Scotland and the UK.
In Catalonia, the situation is much more complicated. The Catalan regional parliament has decided that there should be a referendum on independence on 9 November 2014.
But this referendum on local sovereignty would be illegal under current
Spanish law and the central government in Madrid is not tired of
emphasizing that.
The Catalan regional government - consisting of parties that support
independence - had asked the government in Madrid, to give them the
skills for a referendum. But the answer was: Yes. To date, it is therefore unclear whether the referendum can take place.
The separatists are now talking not of a referendum on independence, but defensive of "voting".
It'll go in the first place about once to capture an accurate
sentiment, as many Catalans want to be independent or govern themselves,
says Albert Royo, Director of the Public Diplomacy Council of
Catalonia. But in order to allow the vote on November 9, still, the Catalans now want to bring their own (regional) law on the way. But that is liable to be rejected by the Spanish Constitutional Court. Then Catalonia takes just to "another 9 November" choose, said the Catalan Vice-President Joana Ortega last week. , the regional government wants to keep their reputable reputation and do anything that is illegal.
The Catalans will vote on the referendum on two questions: "Do you want
that Catalonia is a country If yes: Do you want this state is
independent?" This complicated structure shows that the regional government will always appeal to completely uncompromising population. Only with a twofold Yes would vote for the (international law) Catalan independence from Spain of the voters. A majority of Catalonia as a state within Spain would be a compromise. In such a case, the regional government wants to negotiate more autonomy rights. The separatists give discrete about such a state within a state should still be allowed. But they everybody wants to be allowed to manage their own money and not paid as much in the financial equalization. Many Catalans, it would also be important that the region in the future but may be called "nation" itself.
A boy waves the flag of the Catalans. | © Albert Gea / Reuters
