Courtesy of Mish.
Inquiring minds may be interested in the latest events in Europe on an otherwise slow news weekend. Via translation from El Singular, 800 Towns in Catalonia Openly Pledge Support for Independence Referendum.
This morning, more than 800 mayors delivered to Catalan president Mas certificates in support of the November 9 referendum for Independence. The mayors represent 96% of the Catalan municipalities. A total of 920 councils who have so far voted in favor of N-9, but some mayors did not want to participate in the event.
Since 1918 there has not been a similar concentration of mayors in Catalonia.
The Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias, thanked the 800 mayors who approved the motion to defend the right to decide.
“It is our responsibility to fulfill the legitimate mandate coming from all over Catalonia,” emphasized Trias and asked the mayors to do everything they can to ensure Catalans have the right to vote on November 9.
71% of Catalans Support Right to Vote
The Wall Street Journal notes overwhelming support for the referendum.
A poll taken last week by the regional government’s Center of Opinion Studies found 71% of Catalans favored the Nov. 9 referendum.
Catalan separatists say Spain’s central government doesn’t respect their language and culture, or give them a fair return on their taxes. Spanish leaders say Catalonia has plenty of autonomy, and that the Catalan political class just needs to put its house in order.
Without a doubt the number would be far higher than 71% if Spain’s government had not declared the vote illegal.
Catalonia Autonomy
Let’s take a look at the region of Catalonia.
Statutes of Autonomy
In the Spanish Constitution of 1978 Catalonia, along with the Basque Country and Galicia, was defined as a “nationality”. The same constitution gave Catalonia the automatic right to autonomy, which resulted in the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 1979….
