Catalonia is to hold a referendum on independence in 2014. Convergence and Union (CiU) leader Artur Mas and Republican Left (ERC) leader Oriol Junqueras have struck a deal that includes the approval of a Catalan law on referendums in 2013 and, subsequently, calling the vote in 2014. CiU and ERC have 71 MPs (out of 135) in the Parliament of Catalonia. The agreement also foresees that CiU will form a government with Mas as its president. The leader of CiU was first elected as Catalan president in 2010.
Two other political parties support the holding of the referendum. Ecosocialist Initiative for Catalonia (ICV-EUiA, 13 MPs) and socialist Popular Unity Candidature (CUP, 3 MPs) also want to call a vote on independence. ICV-EUiA would like an option for a federal Spain to be included in the ballots along independence and statuo quo, while CUP supports outright independence.
The Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC, 20 MPs) support a referendum only if it is done in accordance with the Spanish laws. The Popular Party (PP, 19 MPs) and Citizens (C's, 9 MPs) totally oppose the referendum and want Catalonia to continue being an autonomous community of Spain.
Declaration on the sovereignty of the Catalan people
Catalan newspaper Ara has released the text of the agreement between CiU and ERC (in Catalan). According to the text, the first plenary session of the newly elected Catalan Parliament will pass a "declaration on the sovereignty of the people of Catalonia". Parliamentary work to pass the Catalan law on referendums will start before the end of January 2013.
The agreement also foresees the opening of a negotiation process between the Catalan and Spanish governments so that "the right to decide" (direct quote from the document) can be implemented, including the holding of the referendum.
The Spanish government has always said that the Spanish institutions will never agree to such a move.
Referendum delayed only if both parties agree
According to what Junqueras has explained, the referendum can only be delayed if both CiU and ERC agree to. 2014 is a very symbolic year for the Catalan people, since it marks the 300th anniversary of the end of the War on Spanish Succession, after which Catalonia lost its political autonomy.
But both parties admit that they still have to work in order to "cement a large social majority" in favour of the process of self-determination.
"There are still a few minor details that will surely be resolved on Wednesday morning," added Junqueras, who said he was very satisfied, since the accord also contained "changes in economic and social policy". And he added that a sample of this will to implement change is the announcement that the government-elect intends to apply a tax on bank deposits, just as the Republicans had requested.
Just before leaving the Palace, the ERC President shook hands with Francesc Homs, the government spokesperson-elect. Junqueras also confirmed that the investiture would take place at the end of this week.
Assessing the situation
CiU and ERC agree to work on consolidating a wide social majority that allows them to ensure the success of the referendum. That comes after it becomes clear that an important part of Catalanism—according to the agreement—had fully committed itself to transforming the state so that Catalonia could fit in better, but it has seen, and the "repeated negative replies" from Spain confirm, that this is a dead end.
It's for that reason that it is necessary to hold a referendum so that the people can freely and democratically decide their own future, and now we have "an opportunity that only presents itself once in many lifetimes". CiU and ERC note that various opportunities have come together: "the opportunity to construct a new country; the opportunity of the Catalan People to be the protagonist of its own story; the opportunity to put politics in the center of public debate; the opportunity to create a better society based on social justice and equality; the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment with democracy, with peace, and with Europe."
"Catalonia must have tools of state," continues the agreement, so that Catalonia can "develop its own nation building project to the widest degree". Both parties underscore that Catalonia could live much better off than currently if it had full access to the resources generated by its citizens and businesses and if it had the power to make decisions over what belongs to it and affects it.
"There are still a few minor details that will surely be resolved on Wednesday morning," added Junqueras, who said he was very satisfied, since the accord also contained "changes in economic and social policy". And he added that a sample of this will to implement change is the announcement that the government-elect intends to apply a tax on bank deposits, just as the Republicans had requested.
Just before leaving the Palace, the ERC President shook hands with Francesc Homs, the government spokesperson-elect. Junqueras also confirmed that the investiture would take place at the end of this week.
Assessing the situation
CiU and ERC agree to work on consolidating a wide social majority that allows them to ensure the success of the referendum. That comes after it becomes clear that an important part of Catalanism—according to the agreement—had fully committed itself to transforming the state so that Catalonia could fit in better, but it has seen, and the "repeated negative replies" from Spain confirm, that this is a dead end.
It's for that reason that it is necessary to hold a referendum so that the people can freely and democratically decide their own future, and now we have "an opportunity that only presents itself once in many lifetimes". CiU and ERC note that various opportunities have come together: "the opportunity to construct a new country; the opportunity of the Catalan People to be the protagonist of its own story; the opportunity to put politics in the center of public debate; the opportunity to create a better society based on social justice and equality; the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment with democracy, with peace, and with Europe."
"Catalonia must have tools of state," continues the agreement, so that Catalonia can "develop its own nation building project to the widest degree". Both parties underscore that Catalonia could live much better off than currently if it had full access to the resources generated by its citizens and businesses and if it had the power to make decisions over what belongs to it and affects it.
Sources: 'Nationalia', 'Vilaweb', Ara
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