The determination of Carles Puigdemont and his separatists to declare the Catalan region of Spain independent from the rest of the country is unbowed, despite the fact that the vote by 2.26 million of his compatriots in a referendum last Sunday — in which 90 per cent of those voting cast ballots backing a separate state — had no legal footing. Indeed, ever since the vote was called more than six months ago, Spain’s Constitution Court declared the plebiscite as illegal, as did the Spanish government in Madrid, led by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, and Catalonia’s own High Court.
The referendum resulted in violence in which more than 900 Catalans were injured and, on Thursday, Madrid’s most senior official in the region, that includes Spain’s second-largest city of Barcelona, publicly apologised for the egregious manner in which the Guardia Civil, the national police force, had acted against those simply trying to vote. King Felipe has even waded into the Catalonia debate, making a rare public and televised address to the nation, saying the actions of Puigdemont and the supporters of Catalonian independence were destroying the unity of Spain and placing a deep wedge between all Spaniards.
Puigdemont, however, isn’t deterred, and has pledged that a meeting of the regional assembly tomorrow will consider the referendum result as it considers making a full declaration of independence.
Let’s be clear — the vote, as with the previous referendum held in November, 2014, had no legal standing. Spain’s Constitution, adapted at the end of the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, acknowledges that the nation is made up of 17 regions, each with their own regional assembly, but that Spain itself is indivisible and cannot be broken up.
And let’s be clear too, should Puigdemont be determined to declare Catalonia independent, few if any will recognise its legitimacy or legality. It will simply be the act of a political minority intent on forging ahead on a path of recklessness.
Spain’s Constitutional Court has already ordered that the session of the regional assembly due to discuss the vote be suspended. Should the separatists try and debate it, those taking part will be in contempt of court. And Rajoy’s government has already indicated that it is willing to use its emergency powers to suspend the regional assembly and rule the region from Madrid. What’s needed now are talks, and the granting of more autonomy to Catalonia. But independence is a step too far.
