Catalans rally, call for ‘independence’

AFP/Barcelona

Supporters of independence for Catalonia demonstrate yesterday in Barcelona. Banner reads ‘Catalonia, a new European state’

Catalonia’s leader yesterday warned of a “freedom” bid for the region as tens of thousands of people poured into Barcelona demanding a split from Spain and control of their own economy. About 1,000 buses from across the northeastern Spanish region carried supporters of Catalan independence to Barcelona for a march on the region’s national day, the Diada, organisers said. They rallied under the slogan: “Catalonia, a new European state.” Fiercely proud of their distinct language and culture, Catalans increasingly feel they are getting a raw deal from Madrid and their president is now demanding the right to raise and spend their own taxes. “If there is not an agreement on the economic basis, you know that the way of Catalonia for freedom is open,” Catalonia’s regional leader Artur Mas said in English at a news conference. “My goal is to try to reach an agreement with the central government on the economic area and to try to protect Catalonia and to give our country the tools we need to build our future, our national future,” Mas said. Catalonia, whose economy is bigger than Portugal’s, accounts for a fifth of Spanish output. But it is being squeezed by austerity cuts and by an economic crisis that has put one in four people out of work across the country. Mas, leader of the pro-autonomy Convergence and Union alliance, argues that the region gives far more to the rest of Spain than it receives. The Catalan leader is to discuss the so-called fiscal pact with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on September 20. The northern Basque Country region already enjoys the right to levy its own taxes, and its debt has a higher credit rating than the rest of the country. “There is no battle more pressing, no challenge more important than attaining fiscal sovereignty for our country. And never more so than this very moment,” Mas said on the eve of the march. He said he could not join the march himself because of his “institutional” role representing all Catalans. “Nevertheless, even being absent, I want you to know that your demands are my own, your voice is my own and your desires my own,” Mas said. Last month, the region reached out for a 5bn euro ($6.3bn) central government rescue so as to make repayments on its 40bn-euro debt, equal to a fifth of its total output. But the Catalan government says the region is just asking for its own money back. In Barcelona’s Plaza de Catalunya, which was dressed in red and yellow striped Catalan flags, protesters gathered for the evening march. “The crisis gives us more reasons for independence,” said 24-year-old lawyer Mar Tarres. “There is a feeling that we have more cuts here because we are paying for the others,” she said, citing the example of Castellon airport, which was built in neighbouring Valencia during a boom but now has no commercial flights. A survey taken in July and published in Barcelona-based newspaper La Vanguardia on Sunday showed 51.1% of people in Catalonia in favour of independence, compared to just 36% in 2001. Rajoy and his conservative Popular Party government insist that fiscal autonomy for Catalonia will do nothing to resolve the economic crisis. The only path, Rajoy says, is to slash the public deficit for the central government and in the regions, on which Madrid has imposed a deficit limit equal to 1.5% of economic output this year. Catalonia posted a deficit of 3.9% of its output last year, contributing to the nation’s overall deficit of 8.9% - a figure that alarmed world financial markets. “If at any time in Spain’s recent history it has been important to work together for a goal, which is to improve prosperity and the well-being of citizens, to create jobs, to confront the crisis and to resolve it, I think that moment is now,” Rajoy said at a news conference yesterday. “I would like everyone to realise that, and for us to concentrate on what is really important and what affects the Spanish people’s way of life and wellbeing,” he added, when asked about Catalonia’s demands.