Tag: Catalonia referendum

• Thursday, December 21st 2017 - 10:23 UTC

  Catalonia hangover vote: challenge for a stable Spain, and for Europe

  

  As voters in Catalonia ready themselves for Thursday’s election results, they will not be alone in anxious anticipation. Nobody has bet more on the outcome than Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who has urged Catalans to step back from what he sees as an illegal, reckless insistence on independence.

• Monday, November 13th 2017 - 06:44 UTC

  Rajoy campaigns in Catalonia and calls on the silent majority to convert voice in vote

  

  Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy has said regional elections next month in Catalonia will help end “separatist havoc” in the northeastern region. Rajoy addressed a campaign event on Sunday on his first visit since imposing direct rule on the region a fortnight ago.

• Thursday, November 9th 2017 - 11:04 UTC

  Madrid admits constitutional changes to allow referendums in Spanish regions

  

  Spain is considering constitutional changes that could allow its regions to hold referendums on independence in the future, the foreign minister says. Alfonso Dastis has told the BBC a nationwide vote on the issue could be held.

• Saturday, October 7th 2017 - 08:15 UTC

  Madrid decree makes it easier for companies to move location out of Catalonia

  

  Spain’s government has approved a decree that would make it easier for companies in Catalonia to move the location of their official registration out of the region. The move will allow the relocation of Caixabank, Spain’s third largest bank by assets, before next week, when separatist authorities in Catalonia want to declare independence.

• Saturday, October 7th 2017 - 07:34 UTC

  Madrid apologizes to Catalonians injured during police crackdown but blames local government

  

  A top Spanish government official in Catalonia has expressed regret about those injured when police cracked down on people taking part in a banned referendum.

• Thursday, October 5th 2017 - 08:11 UTC

  European Commission supports Madrid: “Catalonia has chosen to ignore the law”

  

  Three full days after Catalonia’s controversial independence referendum, a top European Commission official finally spoke out about the issue tearing Spain apart. The Spanish government’s “proportionate use of force” was necessary to uphold the rule of law, Vice President Frans Timmermans said.

• Wednesday, October 4th 2017 - 07:02 UTC

  Catalonia expected to declare independence in matter of days; King says situation is extremely serious and calls for unity

  

  Catalonia will declare independence from Spain in a matter of days, the leader of the autonomous region has told the BBC. In his first interview since Sunday's referendum, Carles Puigdemont said his government would “act at the end of this week or the beginning of next”.

• Monday, October 2nd 2017 - 09:47 UTC

  Barcelona plays La Liga match behind closed doors; Barca players with Catalan colors and Las Palmas the Spanish flag

  

  Barcelona's La Liga game against Las Palmas was played behind closed doors as a protest after their request for it to be postponed in light of Catalonian independence referendum was rejected. The Spanish government pledged to stop a poll declared illegal on a day of violent protests and unrest.

• Monday, October 2nd 2017 - 09:23 UTC

  Catalonia “closer to statehood”; Rajoy calls Spanish political parties to discuss the situation

  

  Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont said on Sunday that the Spanish region has won the right to statehood following a contentious referendum that was marred by violence. He said the door had been opened to a unilateral declaration of independence. Catalan officials later said 90% of those who voted backed independence in Sunday's vote. The turnout was 42.3%.

• Friday, September 29th 2017 - 07:50 UTC

  Catalonia dispute: Madrid sends 6.000 extra police; Barcelona appeals to Europe to mediate

  

  Barcelona police have sealed off a warehouse said to be stocking ballot boxes, as Spain seeks to obstruct a Catalan independence referendum. The Guàrdia Urbana force was obeying an order from prosecutors to prevent the Catalan vote being held on Sunday. About 16,000 school and university students marched through Barcelona demanding that the vote go ahead.