In Catalonia there are protests by supporters of a united Spain: is it possible to resolve the conflict?

Photo: Twitter / @ YanniKouts

On October 6 in the autonomous province of Catalonia, Spain, the final results of the independence referendum, held on October 1 and recognized by Spain’s central government as illegal, were announced.

2 million 44 thousands of 38 people from 2 millions 286 thousands 217 voted - that is 90,18%, spoke in favor of the withdrawal from Spain - “Radio Liberty".

7,83% voted against (177 547 people). Turnout was almost 43% of Catalan eligible voters. Catalans, who oppose secession from Spain, basically boycotted the referendum.

A meeting of the Catalan parliament is scheduled for October 9, where the results of the referendum will be considered and a decision will be made on the next steps for the province.

The Constitutional Court of Spain banned the session, but the deputies still intend to get together for a meeting.

In connection with these plans of the government, thousands of Catalans gathered on October 8 in the center of Barcelona, ​​speaking out against secession from Spain. The World.

Demonstrators carrying Spanish and Catalan flags chanted “Catalonia is Spain” and called for Catalan President Carles Puigdemont to be jailed.

Edition Bloomberg tried to understand the difficult political situation between Catalonia and Spain.

Catalan officials should not have announced a referendum. But even after deciding to do this, the Spanish government did not have to try to stop the process, as this only complicated the resolution of the conflict.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy tried to portray the Catalan referendum as a purely legal issue. The Spanish Constitutional Court declared it illegal. And the Spanish police tried to interfere with voting by force, arresting politicians, beating voters and withdrawing ballot boxes. The violence that broke out in Catalonia shocked Western Europe.

The separatists' challenge to Spain's democratically elected national government cannot be overlooked, nor is the Catalan independence movement's flouting of the rule of law. At the same time, it is important to remember that the separatists have become a minority voice in one of Spain's most economically important regions. Rajoy's goal is to draw attention to issues that are important to all Catalans.

Finding a way to ease stress will not be easy. A revision of the constitutional order, which has been maintained since 1978, is unlikely to help, since Madrid has already transferred significant powers to the regions. And the formal suspension of the Catalan autonomy, as the Spanish government is now thinking about, will only aggravate the situation even more and push even more voters into the arms of the separatists.

Spain needs a responsible government, which need not be softer or weaker. The search for a way to preserve pluralism and unite the country around common goals in the interests of not only the minority government of Rajoy, but also all Spanish national parties. But such things are not solved quickly. A more effective and less corrupt government, as well as more attention to building political consensus, will help to overcome narrow interests over time.

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