Defying Spanish govt, Catalan leader calls independence referendum

Catalonia’s president on Saturday formally called a referendum to decide whether Spain’s richest region should be independent, defying Madrid which has vowed to block the move. The Spanish government will appeal to the Constitutional Court, which is expected to annul the decree signed by Catalan leader Artur Mas. Inspired by the independence referendum in Scotland this month, 1.8 million people protested in Barcelona on September 11 to be allowed to hold their own vote.

Catalonia wants to express itself, it wants to be heard and it wants to vote.

Artur Mas, President of Catalonia’s regional government

Catalonia formally adopted the status of a “nation” in 2006, but Spain’s Constitutional Court overruled the claim. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has described a Catalan vote on independence as illegal and has vowed to defend the unity of Spain. Catalonia is Spain’s economic powerhouse, although it too suffered in the property crash and the resulting crisis that gripped the country from 2008 to 2012. Proud of their Catalan language and culture, many of the region’s 7.5 million inhabitants feel short-changed by the government in Madrid, which redistributes their taxes.