Independence Problem Of Catalonia

The Catalan independence movement date back from 1922 when Francesc Macià established the political party Catalan State. He was the 122nd President of Catalonia and formerly an officer in the Spanish Army. In 1931, all parties including the Second Spanish Republic agreed to its autonomy within the Spanish state. During the civil war in 1938, General Francisco Franco exterminated Catalan autonomy and killed at least 3,500 separatists. General Francisco Franco was born on 04.12.1892 in Ferrol, Galicia, and died on 20.11.1975 in Madrid. Following his death in 1975 Catalan political parties concentrated on autonomy rather than independence. Spain’s 2008 economic crisis hit the Catalonia region very hard leaving it with 19% unemployment, and 21% nationally, that worked as add fuel to fire by giving birth to modern independence movement began in 2010. There is a widespread feeling in Catalonia that the central government takes much more than it gives back. A strong feeling of inferiority complex culminated in independence vote in 2014, which turned out to be a nightmare for  Catalans as regional President and organizer of independence vote  Artur Mas was fined by the federal court with $39,000, and stalled for 2 years, from holding any post in public office. In 2014, independence polls, Only 2.5 million out of 5.4 million voters participated, 80% of them favored the secession. Because of the low turnout in independence ballots, liberty seekers were unable to draw the world's attention. Yet another effort was made by the Catalan president, Carles Puigdemont in October 2017 when he held the independence referendum. Carles Puigdemont claimed 90 percent of ballot participants favored separation from Spain. Here once again turnout of voters was less than 2014 independence vote. According to the Catalan government, only about 43% of voters cast their vote. The illegal vote angered Prime Minister of Spain Mariano Rajoy in retaliation he invoked article 155 of the Spain constitution, sometimes this article known as a nuclear bomb on Catalans' independence. The article has never been used before, enforced in October 2017 as a result of that Spain dissolved the Catalan parliament called for fresh elections after assuming direct control of Catalonia’s civil service, police, finances, and public media.

Why Catalans Are Longing For Independence?

Catalonia has its own governments which include the president and parliament. Importantly they have a distinct cultural identity & language Catalan but they do not have Army. It covers approximately 12,500 sq miles, 6% total area of Spain. According to the fresh report of the organization of economic co-operation & development  ( OECD) calculation, it would have a gross product of $314 billion, which makes it 34th largest economy in the world, and it's 35,000 GDP per capita make it richer than South Korea, Israel, and Italy. Catalonia is contributing Spain twice that of Scotland to England. Catalonia produces about 20% GDP of Spain. Catalonia is a massive industrial hub in Europen Union. It exports Pharmaceutical, medicines, chemicals, surgery instruments, and fabrics worldwide. Barcelona is the capital and largest city of Catalonia, well known for tourists' destinations because of sea sources and warm climate. Most Catalans think that the central government takes much more than it gives back.