FLAG OF CATALONIA ( REMINDS YOU OF THE FLAG OF ONE OF OUR STATES DOESN'T IT?)
Posted on 11/25/2012 6:57:20 AM PST by SeekAndFind
BARCELONA, Spain - Voters in Spain's Catalonia region began voting Sunday in an election whose outcome is likely to test Spanish unity at a time of deep economic crisis.
Opinion polls show two-thirds of voters in this region on the French border will cast ballots for parties, both rightist and leftist, that want Catalan independence from Spain.
Catalan President Artur Mas will likely win re-election since his conservative Convergence and Union party is forecast to take a majority, some 62 to 64 seats, in the 135-seat regional assembly, or Parliament.
Frustration over high unemployment and a deep recession have fueled a separatist resurgence in Catalonia, where polls show that for the first time more than half of the people want to break away from Spain.
Many Catalans believe their economy would be more prosperous on its own, complaining that a high portion of their taxes go to the central government in Madrid.
Mas, who adopted the independence cause in September after a massive street demonstration, campaigned on a promise to hold a referendum on secession.
If he carries through with the pledge, it will put him on a collision course with Madrid, where Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will use the constitution to block a referendum.
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnews.nbcnews.com ...
From CNN:
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/25/world/europe/spain-catalonia-elections/index.html
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Catalonia has its own flag and language, and various analysts say the economic crisis has brought long-simmering nationalist sentiment to the forefront.
Catalans complain of cultural repression and economic sleights by Madrid dating back centuries.
With just 16% of Spain’s population, Catalonia produces 19% of the nation’s wealth.
Catalonia argues that it sends far more in taxes to Madrid than it gets back in central government spending, and that Catalan taxes help support poorer Spanish regions.
The regions administer key public services such as health and education, and in Catalonia’s case, also the police and prisons.
Hope they are self sufficient as a country and can fight.(they may need both)
Puto Rico is not a state (and hopefully never will be).
Speaking of Puerto Rico, where are those Puerto Rican nationalists when we need them most???
RE: Puto Rico
Was that a typo? Or was it deliberate?
What a shame that people in this country aren’t so bold.
It’s time to derail the gravy train.
>> since his conservative Convergence and Union party is forecast to take a majority, some 62 to 64 seats, in the 135-seat regional assembly, or Parliament. <<
Math skills, NBC? A majority of 135 is at least 68.
Looking at the Basques, I’m not optimistic.
It’ll probably end up as Catatonia.
Take a wild guess...
That's what I was thinking. I think they are entitled to full autonomy.
Catalan independence would also trigger off a wider o'eil movement -- since Catalan, Provence etc are transition languages between CAstilian (what we call Spanish) and French (which is the northern French dialect)
They probably will be. Maybe its better — this way they can pay taxes...
With about 10% of votes counted, they are projecting the CIU will lose at least 8 seats.
Most Ricans dont earn enough income to pay income taxes at a significant level. It wont change with statehood. No more Third World nations in the US please.
You mean like those people in the Appalachia???
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