Catalonia sets course to exercise the right to decide, declaring its sovereignty. Catalonia begins the process to become a
state.
Last November 25, at the Catalan elections with the greatest ever
participation, the most focused on the right to decide, the citizens clearly
expressed their support for Catalonia to begin a process ending in the free
exercise of the right to self-determination.
The Spanish government's persistent rejection of
Catalonia's legitimate demands for self-government, to put a stop to the massive
tax plunder Catalonia is subject to, or for respect for Catalan culture and the
language, have thwarted the different proposals to reach an understanding made
by the Catalan institutions across the board to the Spanish institutions.
The severity of the economic crisis has made the effects of the Spanish
government’s hostility still more grave: a tax deficit that is draining the
Catalan economy at an annual rate of 8.5% of GDP (average over last 26 years), a
reiterated breach of commitments by the Spanish state to invest in Catalonia (to
the tune of €8.5bn) and the unjust distribution of budget ceilings for 2013 for
the different levels of public administration (while the central government
reserves a mild reduction of 16% for itself, it is demanding a 50% deficit cut
from Catalonia's government, affecting key aspects of the welfare state such as
health, education and social services).
Respecting the will of the majority expressed at the ballot, as well as for
the future of the Catalan economy, the Parliament of Catalonia is initiating a
democratically faultless and legally coherent process necessary to become an
independent state.
Declaration of Sovereignty: first step in the process
The Declaration of Sovereignty approved this Wednesday, January 23, by the
Parliament of Catalonia means Catalonia proclaims before the world it is a
“sovereign legal and political subject”, and this proclamation is to be the
basis for the whole process about to begin.
The subsequent steps in the process will include legislation on referendums,
the opening of discussions and negotiations with the Spanish state, and the
development of a process of open and transparent debate within Catalan society,
with the aim of making available all the formal, legal and institutional
procedures required so the people of Catalonia may pronounce in 2014 its will
concerning the opportunity of becoming a State within a European framework.
An unimpeachably democratic, transparent, deliberated, participative
pro-European process
With this Declaration of Sovereignty, Catalonia is initiating a democratic
process of unimpeachable legal coherence so as to make it possible for the
process to come under international legislation, if necessary.
Therefore, the process is established to be “scrupulously democratic,
particularly guaranteeing the plurality of choice and the respect for all,
through deliberation and dialogue within Catalan society, with the aim of
ensuring the outcome is the expression of the majority will of the people.”
The process will seek “dialogue and negotiation with the Spanish state,
European institutions and the whole international community.”
Likewise, as has always been characteristic of Catalanism as a whole, the
process will be profoundly linked to the values of a democratic Europe. It thus
establishes that “the foundational principles of the European Union will be
defended and fostered, particularly the fundamental rights of citizens,
democracy, a commitment to the welfare state, solidarity among the territories
of the Union and the furtherance of economic, social and cultural progress.”
European Free Alliance
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