Madrid's refusal to allow Catalonia a vote on independence was expected, says Andreu Mas-Colell, economy minister. But the example of Scotland offers a vision for the future
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Minister of Economy and Knowledge of Catalonia Andreu Mas-Colell Photo: WIKIMEDIA
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7:01PM BST 09 Apr 2014
Ask Andreu Mas-Colell, the man in charge of Catalonia's economy, for his
thoughts on Scotland's forthcoming independence vote, and he hardly draws
breath before answering.
"Admiration, respect and envy," he said. "It's an exemplary
process."
Yet to the frustration of Mr Mas-Colell, it is an example which is unlikely to
be followed any time soon by Spain.
On Tuesday the parliament in Madrid voted overwhelmingly against allowing
Barcelona to vote on
independence – with 299 votes to 47, and one abstention, after nearly seven hours of debate. Mariano Rajoy, the emphatically anti-referendum prime minister, told parliament: "Together we all win, but separate, we all lose. This isn't just a question of law, but of sentiment. I can't imagine Spain without Catalonia, or Catalonia out of Europe."
independence – with 299 votes to 47, and one abstention, after nearly seven hours of debate. Mariano Rajoy, the emphatically anti-referendum prime minister, told parliament: "Together we all win, but separate, we all lose. This isn't just a question of law, but of sentiment. I can't imagine Spain without Catalonia, or Catalonia out of Europe."
Artur Mas, the president of Catalonia, retorted that "they are afraid of
the Catalan people voting."
He continued, in a live television address to the Catalan people: "Some
would like to present this as the end of the matter but, as President of
Catalonia, I say to them that it is not the end."
Unlike in Britain, Spain already has high levels of regional independence: Barcelona controls its own police, education system and health provisions. The Catalan language is also legally recognised.
But the wealthy region has long felt that it was paying too high a share of Spain's economic burden, and when Mr Mas failed to clinch a better financial pact for Catalonia in 2012, he revived calls for a full referendum on independence.
The spectre of a breakaway Catalonia, which accounts for a fifth of the Spanish economy and 16 per cent of its population, has become a big headache for Mr Rajoy, who is battling high unemployment and the scars of a deep recession. Mr Rajoy has so far vehemently rejected all calls to follow the Scottish path, saying that it simply wasn't possible to grant permission for a vote, which he said was prohibited by the constitution.
For Mr Mas-Colell, however, the Scottish vote gives hope to Catalonia.
"Sooner or later, Spain will have to yield to democratic imperatives," he said, speaking to The Telegraph ahead of Tuesday's vote. "No two countries are the same, but I like to think that the European traditions of democracy imposes norms for behaviour. And the Scottish process is scrupulously democratic."
But what will happen to Catalonia's ambitions if Scotland votes no to independence?
"We have no position on their referendum," he said quickly. "If they vote no, it will be discounted.
"We're at a phase much earlier than the British. We're still struggling for a referendum. The important fact for us would be to be able to simply say: we are having a referendum."
And Mr Mas-Colell said that he was "absolutely convinced" that it was possible for both Scotland and Catalonia to be independent, and remain within the EU.
"I don't have the slightest doubt about that," he said. "In all of these matters, there are a lot of threats made.
"But then the threats become empty matters in the past."
The 69-year-old economist said that Barcelona would not be defeated by the Madrid vote, and would now likely seek a "consultation" – rather than a referendum – on the issue. Mr Mas has vowed not to do anything which goes against Spanish law, despite having set a date for a referendum in November.
This could be diluted into the "consultation", meaning that in essence the next election in Catalonia, which must be held by 2016, will be used as a proxy vote on independence.
"You don't need to think too hard to see that Madrid's attitude is eccentric and atypical," he said. "Next door, in Britain, something is happening which shows a referendum is perfectly democratic, and perfectly possible.
"It is something we are all watching with envy."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10755801/Scottish-referendum-gives-us-hope-for-independence-says-Catalonia-minister.html
Unlike in Britain, Spain already has high levels of regional independence: Barcelona controls its own police, education system and health provisions. The Catalan language is also legally recognised.
But the wealthy region has long felt that it was paying too high a share of Spain's economic burden, and when Mr Mas failed to clinch a better financial pact for Catalonia in 2012, he revived calls for a full referendum on independence.
The spectre of a breakaway Catalonia, which accounts for a fifth of the Spanish economy and 16 per cent of its population, has become a big headache for Mr Rajoy, who is battling high unemployment and the scars of a deep recession. Mr Rajoy has so far vehemently rejected all calls to follow the Scottish path, saying that it simply wasn't possible to grant permission for a vote, which he said was prohibited by the constitution.
For Mr Mas-Colell, however, the Scottish vote gives hope to Catalonia.
"Sooner or later, Spain will have to yield to democratic imperatives," he said, speaking to The Telegraph ahead of Tuesday's vote. "No two countries are the same, but I like to think that the European traditions of democracy imposes norms for behaviour. And the Scottish process is scrupulously democratic."
But what will happen to Catalonia's ambitions if Scotland votes no to independence?
"We have no position on their referendum," he said quickly. "If they vote no, it will be discounted.
"We're at a phase much earlier than the British. We're still struggling for a referendum. The important fact for us would be to be able to simply say: we are having a referendum."
And Mr Mas-Colell said that he was "absolutely convinced" that it was possible for both Scotland and Catalonia to be independent, and remain within the EU.
"I don't have the slightest doubt about that," he said. "In all of these matters, there are a lot of threats made.
"But then the threats become empty matters in the past."
The 69-year-old economist said that Barcelona would not be defeated by the Madrid vote, and would now likely seek a "consultation" – rather than a referendum – on the issue. Mr Mas has vowed not to do anything which goes against Spanish law, despite having set a date for a referendum in November.
This could be diluted into the "consultation", meaning that in essence the next election in Catalonia, which must be held by 2016, will be used as a proxy vote on independence.
"You don't need to think too hard to see that Madrid's attitude is eccentric and atypical," he said. "Next door, in Britain, something is happening which shows a referendum is perfectly democratic, and perfectly possible.
"It is something we are all watching with envy."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10755801/Scottish-referendum-gives-us-hope-for-independence-says-Catalonia-minister.html
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