Breaking News: Catalan Parliament Declared Independence!
[Текст на српском] Breaking News — literally! Breakup of Spain begins with today's secret ballot on Declaration of Independence in the Catalan Parliament!
The independence motion was passed with 70 votes in favor, 10 against, and two blank ballots, the assembly's speaker announced, according to Reuters. Opposition members from the Socialist Party, the People's Party (PP), and Ciudadanos left the chamber in protest ahead of the vote. Catalan Parliament has 135 members.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has urged for calm, stating that the rule of law will be restored in Catalonia, but Spanish stocks dive 2% as Catalan parliament votes for independence.
Moment Catalan parliament declares independence from Spain, crowds cheering
I count two Catalans among my friends. Full disclosure: neither is in favor of separating. Catalan separatism is a complicated problem.
As for the Catalan people, nobody is really certain how many are pro and anti independence. The Spanish government criminalizes the vote, which puts those against separation in a difficult position.
Regardless, declaration of independence has already had a significant financial impact on Cataluña. Large corporations are looking to leave the region for the stability of Spain. I believe La Caixa, one of Spain's financial powerhouses, has already moved its headquarters out of the region.
And if Cataluña does become its own country what next? Spain could continue to divide along its autonomous regions and we could have little kingdoms again. Would that create more or less stability on the peninsula?
It will be interesting to how this unravels.
Thank you very much for your input @fotosdenada. I wish you all the best and hope everything will pass without a bloodshed.
Catalonian independence needs to be followed closely by the rest of the world. The future for "non-Catalonians" may very well play out the same.
SDG
Quite right, @sighmanjestah. These events can breakup EU and influence whole World.