BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – A week before Scotland votes on whether to break away from the United Kingdom, separatists in northeastern Spain were trying to convince hundreds of thousands to protest across Catalonia to demand a secession sentiment vote that the central government in Madrid insists would be illegal.
Several hours before the protests began Thursday, Catalonia regional leader Artur Mas said his government is not wavering from plans to hold the referendum on Nov. 9 in the region of 7.6 million people, even though experts say any attempt is sure to be blocked by Spain’s Constitutional Court.
A recent poll suggesting that Scotland’s Yes independence camp could possibly win their Sept. 18 vote has captivated Catalan separatists, as well as Corsicans who want to break away from France and Flemish speakers in Belgium demanding more autonomy, independence or union with the Netherlands.
“The dynamics at this point are with the ‘Yes’ side, and if the ‘Yes’ side actually wins it creates a strong precedent,” said Hugh O’Donnell, a professor of cultural politics at Glasgow Caledonian University. “I think the political ramifications are to send a signal to other separatists that change is possible.”
Unlike the Scottish ballot, a vote in Catalonia would not result in secession. Mas’ proposed referendum would ask Catalans whether they favor secession and if the answer is yes he says that would give him political ammunition to try to negotiate a process that could lead to independence.