First step to independence? Catalonia’s big stakes poll approaches

MADRID: -- Catalonia goes to the polls on Sunday in local elections that some hope could set the ball rolling towards independence from Spain.

That is certainly the hope of pro-breakaway ex-Barcelona football coach Pep Guardiola as well as the region’s President Artur Mas who insists that going it alone is a means to an end.

“Independence is not the aim, is not the goal. Independence or having your own state is the tool we need to work out all the other problems,” he said.

But try telling that to Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy who has described independence plans as “nonsense” or his conservative People’s Party’s regional candidate, Xavier Garcia Albiol.

“This flag represents us all,” Garcia Albiol told supporters at a rally, holding up a flag combining the Catalan and Spanish designs, with a heart in the middle.

“The Catalan flag and the Spanish flag with a heart at the centre. This is what makes us proud,” he said.

Anti-independence campaigners point to the consequences of a breakaway.

For example, Catalonia would automatically be booted out of the euro zone and its banks would lose access to European Central Bank facilities if it goes it alone, Spain’s central bank chief said on Monday.

In a symbolic ballot last November, 80 percent of people in the wealthy northeastern region voted in favour of independence, although turnout was relatively low.

“I hope the ‘yes’ wins,” said Barcelona resident Sergi Mancilla.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015.09.25

Good Luck to them...Catalonia go bragh...saor...

An out of touch central government with nothing positive to offer the secessionists, so it resorts to threats, bullying and scare tactics - sounds familiar.