Catalonia

EXCLUSIVE

Demonstrators take part in a march celebrating the Catalan National day on September 11, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain.

Catalans remember general strike in the wake of 2017 independence referendum
FIVE years ago today – two days after the Catalan independence referendum, on October 1, 2017 – a general strike of all Catalan workers was organised in defence of the referendum and in outrage at the violence of the Spanish police.

A man waves a Catalan Independence flag, know as 'Estelada', on a roof of a building

THE LONG READ Catalonia in stasis: Independence parties divided on path forward after 1-O vote

Catalan independence supporters gathered at Plaza Sant Jaume in Barcelona yesterday to take part in a demonstration marking the fifth anniversary of the Catalan independence referendum. Photograph: Josep Lago

EXCLUSIVE REPORT ‘Act or resign’: Catalans hold rally amid backdrop of tension between pro-independence parties

William Thomson (main) from Scotonomics said there was a difference between 2014 and 2017 indeyref campaigns

SPECIAL REPORT ‘How could this happen in a democracy?’: Lessons to learn from Catalan referendum

Catalonians went to the polls with hope five years ago, but the Spanish government has cracked down on the independence movement

SPECIAL REPORT Catalonia gears up to mark five years since independence vote that rocked Spain

A Catalan flag and Saltire fly side-by-side

The National reports from Barcelona to mark five years since Catalan indyref

The rally has been the focal point of the movement for the past decade

Catalan independence rally draws tens of thousands of demonstrators

Independent human rights experts working with the UN say Spain violated the political rights of members of the Catalan government

Spain violated Catalan politicians' rights after indyref, UN declares

Alex Salmond made the calls while on a tour of Catalonia

Independence case must be heard by international bodies, Alex Salmond says

Major disagreements persist between the Spanish and Catalan governments

Catalan president challenges Spanish government to call independence referendum

A new push for Catalonian independence is set to begin

National Day of Catalonia to begin ‘new onslaught’ for independence

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont

Letters EU is turning a blind eye to Spain spying on Catalan activists

Spanish and Catalan leaders may meet for first time since spying scandal

Spanish and Catalan leaders may meet for first time since spying scandal

Pro-independence activists ready their lights ahead of the Pyrenees Way demonstration. Photos courtesy of Gure Esku

IN PICTURES Pro-independence democracy demo 'Europe's biggest ever artistic political action'

Indyref2: Catalan Government ‘always in favour of democratic expressions’

Exclusive Indyref2: Catalan Government ‘always in favour of democratic expressions’

Catalan pro-independence leader voices support for second Scottish referendum

Exclusive Catalan pro-independence leader voices support for second Scottish referendum

William Aitken, left, has been sentenced to five years and two months in a Spanish prison for his alleged role in a political protest in Barcelona last year

EXCLUSIVE Scot in Catalonia sentenced to five years in prison over protest allegations

Gaudi-inspired architecture is among the sights in Palma

TRAVEL Visiting the Mallorcan capital which shows Spain in glorious miniature

'You can count on us', a former president of Catalonia has told Scotland in a letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

EXCLUSIVE Indyref2 'good news for democracy everywhere', former Catalan president says

President Quim Torra with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh in 2018, a meeting he said he 'will always remember'

INDYREF INTERNATIONAL READ IN FULL: Former Catalan president Quim Torra's letter to Nicola Sturgeon

Carles Puigdemont, former party president

Once-imprisoned Catalan politician replaces Carles Puigdemont as party president

The scandal has put fresh strain on the relationship between Catalonia and Spain

New Catalangate revelations raise further questions

Spanish Government claims prime minister also targeted by spyware

Spain claims prime minister targeted by spyware used against Catalans

Spain must be held accountable for espionage against Catalan activists

LETTERS Spain must be held accountable for espionage against Catalan activists

Pedro Sanchez, Spain's prime minister

Spanish government loses support over Catalan spyware scandal

Pere Aragones had called for an investigation

Spanish Government announces investigation into ‘Catalangate’

Niklas Bremberg, associate professor in political science at Stockholm University

EXCLUSIVE Catalonia can learn from Scottish independence negotiations, says top political analyst

From left: Current Catalan president Pere Aragonès, and former presidents Quim Torra and Artur Mas

Pro-independence Catalan presidents 'targeted by Spain' in spyware attacks

Former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont

European court backs Spain on extradition of Catalan exiles

Former Catalan president Quim Torra

EXCLUSIVE Top author reveals the Catalonian lessons the Yes movement must learn

Festival of Catalan art and culture heads to Scotland for months of celebration

Festival of Catalan art and culture heads to Scotland for months of celebration

Quim Torra said he would not 'legitimise this farce'

Former Catalan president refuses to attend ‘repressive pantomime’ of a trial

Catalan president Pere Aragones

Catalan president pledges to restart negotiations, despite Spanish 'authoritarianism'

Elisenda Paluzie told the Catalan president she wanted to see a 'radical turn' in the strategy of the pro-independence majority in parliament

'Radical turn' needed to boost case for Catalan independence, says Paluzie

Former Spanish King former king Juan Carlos has been accused of taking bribes

Letters Spain should focus on the crimes of its royals, not Catalan activists

Yellow ribbons have become synonymous with the Catalan independence movement and led to Pau Juvilla's disqualification as an MP

Catalan parliament given ultimatum over MP in 'yellow ribbons' ruling

Many of Franco's supporters remained in office after his dictatorship ended

COMMENT The lessons for Scotland in Spain’s oppression of Catalan autonomy

Mike Thom, pictured casting his vote in the Catalan indyref, says Brexit has ruined Barcelona Burns Club's Burns Night celebrations because they can't get a Macsween's haggis

EXCLUSIVE Scot blames Brexit as he can't get haggis for Barcelona Burns Night

Pau Juvillà had pro-independence ribbons in his office while he was a councillor

Catalan MP suspended as yellow ribbon crackdown continues

Jordi Sanchez, right, with Jordi Cuixart, who is standing down from the grassroots Omnium Cultural

Catalan indy figure Jordi Cuixart stands down from Omnium Cultural

Antoni Gaudi was arrested for speaking Catalan

Letters Gaudi’s story is an example of Catalan language battle

The outpouring of grief that followed the Barcelona terror attacks in 2017

Call for inquiry over Barcelona terror attack allegations

Former Spanish police commissioner Jose Manuel Villarejo said the 2017 terror attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils were orchestrated by Spain's secret service

Former police chief claims Spanish secret service was behind 2017 terror attacks

Poland and Romania have backed Spain's bid to extradite Catalan MEPs Clara Ponsati, Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comin from Belgiuim

Two EU countries back Spain over extradition of Catalan independence leaders

A Belgian appeal court has ruled that exiled Catalan rapper Valtonyc cannot be extradited to Spain, ending a three-year saga Picture: Getty Images

Belgian court rejects Spain's bid to extradite Catalan rapper Valtonyc

Handheld devices may be ubiquitous but for some they are the bane of modern life. Perhaps it’s time to put them away

LETTERS Scots should ditch the smartphone and enjoy the festive period IRL

Clara Ponsati spoke out over the meeting

Catalan MEPs hit out at EU for meeting with pro-Union group

Elisenda Paluzie, president of the Catalan National Assembly, says Nicola Sturgeon should have held a referendum with Brexit as the trigger. Photo: Colin Mearns

EXCLUSIVE UDI failed in 2017 – but could it break the deadlock over Catalonia’s future?

Carles Puigdemont said any suggestion he had sought help from Russia was 'a fantasy story created by Madrid'

Diplomat says EU spooks did not write report linking Catalonia and Russia

Elisenda Paluzie said independence could not come about without a degree of political conflict

EXCLUSIVE Catalan independence leader compares Boris Johnson to 'old Spanish nationalists'

Elisenda Paluzie, president of the Catalan National Assembly will take part in the conference

Exclusive How a joint approach to independence in Catalonia and Scotland could work

Josep Lluis Alay, a chief adviser to former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, faces a trial over his expenses for a visit to New Caledonia

Former Catalan president's aide faces trial over expenses for independence visit

Nicola Sturgeon and Catalan president talk independence at 'interesting meeting'

cop26 Nicola Sturgeon and Catalan president talk independence at 'interesting meeting'

A lot of people began cycling over lockdown, with bike sales up 60% in the first months of the pandemic

comment How Catalonia is showing a way forward for Scotland's climate battle