CATALAN self-determination is a worry for just 11% of voters who are going to the polls in Spain, and yet it has remained one of the most dominant topics of recent years and will likely play a big part in today’s election.
Spain’s Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) found that almost two thirds (61.8%) of people it polled saw the country’s biggest problem as unemployment.
READ MORE: Quim Torra says he's ready to back Nicola Sturgeon on indyref2 push
Corruption and fraud were a concern for 33.3% of voters and Spanish politics, politicians and parties a worry for 29.1%.
The Catalan crisis was largely responsible for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez calling an early election – pro-independence MPs scratched his back and helped the Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) leader oust Mariano Rajoy.
But he didn’t return the favour, telling Catalan President Quim Torra shortly after he took over as PM last June that he was willing to discuss anything – except self-determination.
However, when he tried to pass his budget proposals through parliament, those same members refused to budge several times and, rather than enter discussions he called a snap election.
Now a small, left-wing party that was only established five years ago, could play a major role in deciding who will be Spain’s next PM.
Anti-austerity Unidas Podemos (United We Can), led by the bearded and pony-tailed Pablo Iglesias, is further to the left than the PSOE, but it is likely to oppose any attempt by the right wing – Peoples Party (PP), Citizens and Vox – to form a coalition government and will back Sanchez.
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Sanchez, though, could have another problem on his hands. His erstwhile allies support an indyref for Catalonia.
Iglesias has said he wants the wealthy north-eastern state to remain part of Spain, but he is willing to respect the will of the 80% of Catalans who are estimated to want a poll.
He has also called for the release of jailed Catalan leaders who have been on trial in the Spanish Supreme Court and for those in exile to be returned.
Sanchez may be running short of political bedfellows after an ill-tempered televised leaders debate saw PP leader Pablo Casado and Citizens’ Albert Rivera mount a two-pronged attack on him over Catalonia.
Rivera told him: “Many Socialists are disappointed with you because you want to liquidate Spain,” while Casado described him as “the favourite candidate of the enemies of Spain”, in reference to pro-indy Catalans.
During the debate Rivera appeared to call Catalan President Quim Torra – who was not involved in the discussion – a Nazi, before trying to backpedal his way out of it.
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Torra, for his part, said he reserved the right to take legal action to protect his honour.
He told The Sunday National: “Unfortunately some Spaniards use this word to [describe] many of us who are defending the independence of Catalonia.
“We Catalans have had a turbulent history and have suffered two dictatorships in the last century – two fascist regimes – many people died because the actions of Franco, many had to exile, many Spaniards and Catalans at the end of the Spanish Civil War fought with the Resistance in France and many were moved to the Nazi concentration camps.
“So, for a Catalan this is the worst word anyone can use, it really cuts them.”
He added: “Personally, for my family this is something that is very grave for someone to be described as a Nazi.”
Later Torra, and his predecessor, the exiled Carles Puigdemont, welcomed Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement about indyref2.
Torra said: “I support it absolutely. I had the opportunity to meet her … and I appreciate her efforts and determination in the views we share of our countries’ independence.
“All my solidarity to the position she’s going to take and if she needs support from Catalonia she knows she has it.”
Puigdemont tweeted: “I welcome today’s decision by First Minister of Scotland @NicolaSturgeon to organise a second independence referendum #IndyRef2. The right to self-determination will be exercised with normality once again in Europe.”
Jordi Sanchez, the jailed former president of the Catalan National Congress and a Together for Catalonia candidate in today’s election, tweeted: “Scotland will vote again for their independence, they are not afraid at the polls, neither are we, democracy is our strength, self-determination is our right and the referendum is the instrument towards independence.”
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