Catalans stage mock secession vote

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Yesterday, 166 towns in Spain held a vote on whether to secede from the country. It all took place in the semi-autonomous region of Catalonia. The voting was purely symbolic, because secession votes are actually illegal in Spain. Catalan separatists organized the mock event because many Catalans are upset with the central government in Madrid. They complain that they’re over taxed, and they’re tired of waiting for a promised new autonomy law that would give them more control of their own affairs. The World’s Gerry Hadden reports.

Gerry also shot this video:

• Reuters: Low turnout in Catalan independence “referendum”
• BBC coverage

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MARCO WERMAN: I’m Marco Werman, this is The World.  In northeast Spain 166 towns held a vote yesterday, the question was whether to secede from the country.  It all took place in the semi-autonomous region of Catalonia, and it was all purely symbolic since secession votes are technically illegal in Spain.  But as The World’s Gerry Hadden reports the vote tapped into a growing anger at the government down in Madrid.

GERRY HADDEN: Across Catalonia yesterday thousands cast their symbolic breakaway votes.  Montserrat Solar went to the poles in the town of Sant Cogat, the homemaker says being Catalan is different from being Spanish, even though ethnically everyone’s the same.

MONTSERRAT SOLAR: [CATALAN]

HADDEN: She says we are Catalans because we were born here.  It’s our country, our language.  It’s just a feeling that we have.  We identify ourselves as the Catalan people.  Others might not feel it, but we do.  In another village called Valldoreix voter Jordi Costas says the symbolic pole was meant to put Madrid on alert.  Either grant us more autonomy he says, or we’ll take it for ourselves.

JORDI COSTAS: [CATALAN]

HADDEN: He says I believe nations like ours have the right to decide their own future.  In theory all citizens of the world ought to have this right.  In the end nearly 95 percent of those who voted yesterday chose secession, the most common reasons besides a strong sense of identity, feeling scorned by Madrid even as the government levies high taxes on them.  And feeling fed up waiting for an updated law of autonomy.  Spain’s autonomy laws lay out the division of powers between Madrid and the country’s various regions.  Catalonia’s was approved three years ago, but it’s been bogged down in lawsuits.  Given Catalan’s frustration, yesterday’s overwhelming secession vote put organizers in a great mood.

WOMAN: [SPANISH]

HADDEN: And prompted them to announce they’ll try this again, for real.  Carles Mora is the group’s coordinator.

CARLES MORA: [CATALAN]

HADDEN: He says our political representatives must now assume their responsibilities and carry through with the people’s wishes.  We are calling on the Catalan Parliament to pass a law to allow a real referendum on Catalan independence this coming April.  That may not happen.  Many Catalan politicians didn’t actually vote yesterday.  That may be because most polls suggest the majority of Catalans want to remain in Spain.  In fact yesterday’s turnout was just 30 percent, but that didn’t stop Spain’s small radical right from mobilizing against the secession vote.  The Fallangists marched in Madrid, and conservatives were all over the radio today.

RADIO: [SPANISH]

HADDEN: This commentator called Sunday’s vote nothing short of an assault on the nation.  Whether Catalan separatists ultimately win the right to hold a real referendum, the hullabaloo now puts Spain in a somewhat embarrassing position.  It’s about to take over the rotating Presidency of the European Union, just at a time when the EU itself is struggling to show a united front on the World stage.  For The World I’m Gerry Hadden, Valldoreix, Spain.

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