The proposal for an independence referendum in Catalonia has been revealed by the region’s government, almost seven years subsequent to the prior voting that led to significant repercussions. The current president of Catalonia region, Pere Aragonès, pronounced the scheme for a binding referendum which is fashioned after independence votes witnessed in Quebec and Scotland. His ideas are constructed on a study by the Institute for Self-Government Studies (IEA), a research body associated with the Catalan government.
Aragonès emphatically presented the initiative, expressing that the possibility of an independence vote within the existing legislative framework solely depends on the enactment of political will. According to his administration, the constitutional document of Spain could be construed to permit the proposed voting. In this interpretation, the Magna Carta’s provision on referendums–stating that they are permitted provided ‘all citizens’ are consulted– implies the consultation needs not include all Spanish people, rather exclusively Catalans.
The date for the referendum has yet to be arranged, as Aragonès anticipates it to be a matter to be agreed upon with the Spanish state. His political party, Catalan Republican Left (ERC), is approaching this project more carefully as compared to previous pro-independence movements in 2017. Those defiant movements went against the wishes of the former conservative government and legal rulings, opting for a one-sided vote.
That prior referendum, hosted amidst a police charge against voters that resulted in a temporary direct rule from the Spanish government, culminating in the subsequent imprisonment of nine independence leaders.
In recent years, support for the independence of Catalonia has seen a decline, with only 41% Catalans favouring it according to a recent regional government statistic institute poll. Despite this, nationalist parties, comprising of ERC and the more vehement Together for Catalonia (JxCat), leveraging their significant influence in the Spanish parliamentary system to back the minority government of Socialist Pedro Sánchez, demand major compromises.
One significant triumph they have already bagged is an amnesty bill designed to favour Catalan nationalists who are under possible legal action for separatist activities. The proposed law is currently under consideration in parliament and could be operational as soon as the end of May.
Detractors from the right have heavily criticised Mr Sánchez’s amnesty, which they perceive as an illegal means to keep the Socialist Prime Minister in position. Unionists assert that a prospective referendum is unconstitutional, which has fuelled widespread controversy. Despite the Spanish government rejecting the potential for any vote on independence, the proposition by Mr Aragonès amplifies tension in the region.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who leads the main opposition party, the Popular Party (PP), has urged Mr Sánchez to cease any further discussion of a referendum, suggesting instead to sever ties with his Catalan allies and putting a stop to what he brands a “fruitless quest”.
The unequivocally unionist right-wing newspaper, La Razón is also dismayed by the issue re-emerging. “We dread the potential resurrection of the debate on the negotiated self-determination referendum, which was previously put to rest, and again ruling over Catalan politics, which is perpetually under the nationalists’ control,” the publication stated.
As the impending snap Catalan election on May 12th nears, there is anticipation that the two leading pro-independence parties will grapple over dominance concerning the question of sovereignty. Carles Puigdemont, who is seen as the unofficial JxCat leader, and potentially next regional government leader following his self-imposed exile, has taken a more unbending stance than ERC. Last month, he announced his candidacy and emphasised the need for “the independence movement to revert to the triumphant strategy of 2017.”