Blogs and advice from Industry leading Specialists
Valuable Opinions, Comments & Gossip
Financial related News & Articles relating to Spain
Latest News, Stories
& Hot Topics
Various Tools & Widgets to help with your financial needs
Tools & Widgets to
help with finances
Polls, Surveys and Opinions featured throughout Tumbit
Featured Polls, Surveys & Stats
Discussions, Advice & Topical Chat
Discussions, Advice & Topical Chat

Catalan separatists eye election boost to defy Spain over independence

Source: Reuters - Sun 27th Sep 2015
Catalan separatists eye election boost to defy Spain over independence

Separatist parties are expected to win control of Catalonia's parliament in an election on Sunday, setting the region on course for a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain, which the central government says is impossible.

Opinion polls indicate the main secessionist group "Junts Pel Si" (Together for Yes) and leftist party CUP are likely to fall short of 50 percent of the vote, but would still secure a majority of seats in the 135-strong regional assembly.

Both have said that such a result would allow them to unilaterally declare independence within 18 months.

The Spanish centre-right government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, which has opposed any attempt to hold a referendum on secession, has called the breakaway plan "a nonsense" and vowed to block it in court.

In Barcelona, where three quarters of the 5.5 million Catalan voters were due to cast their ballot, the mood was relaxed following a tense political campaign.

The regional government said it expected the turnout to rise sharply from the last elections in 2012 after postal votes jumped 56 percent. Pollsters have said that an exceptionally high turnout could spur a surprise result.

Montse Casamitjana, a school teacher from Barcelona, said the election was a moment of truth for Catalonia.

"We want to decide (our future) and we want to feel that we are being heard," she said after casting her ballot in the Pedralbes neighbourhood.

Other voters also said they were tired of the political wrangling over secession.

CONSEQUENCES

While a breakaway by the wealthy northeastern autonomous region is still seen as hypothetical, even in Catalonia, analysts say the election result will bear long-lasting consequences at local and countrywide level.

The secessionist campaign is facing a defining moment. Support for the cause has steadily waned since a peak in 2013 and any failure to achieve a majority would deal a serious blow to the movement.

The vote may also influence the course of the Spanish general election in December.

The main national parties, all seeking to capture more votes in Spain's second most populous region, have said they were ready to discuss with Catalonia a more favourable tax regime and increased infrastructure spending if they win.

Depending on who forms a government in Madrid, constitutional reform to recognise Catalonia as a nation within the Spanish state may even be on the cards.

With separatists saying independence is the only solution and the next Spanish government unlikely to enjoy the strong and stable majority it would need in a new era of fragmented politics, however, any talks with Catalonia may be a hard sell.

But most analysts and politicians say they would go a long way towards soothing Catalan discontent.

"Only when a final package is adopted and put to a vote will the problem find some form of resolution," Teneo Intelligence analyst Antonio Barroso said in a note this week.

"Even if secessionist parties are able to remain united - a big if - and continue pushing for independence, any concessions from Madrid would probably help to stymie the movement's momentum," he also said.

Financial markets will also be watching the vote outcome. While few investors believe independence is likely anytime soon, the gap between Spanish and Catalan five-year bond yields has been hovering near its widest point in two years.

Spain's banks, including some based in Barcelona, have warned that secession could cause financial turmoil, while the Bank of Spain has said Catalonia could risk exiting the euro.

Recommended Reading :

* Catalonia's secession plan and how Spain would block it

* Catalonia could withhold its share of Spanish regional debt

Comment on this Story

 
Be the first to comment on this Story !!

Related Partners

Recommended Items

Related Articles

Related Blogs