Catalonia takes historic first step to independence from Spain

BARCELONA, Spain – Spain’s autonomous Catalonia region on Monday passed a historic resolution supporting independence, with the separatist alliance that tabled the motion saying this could happen within 18 months.

The resolution calls for separation from Spain by 2017.

The controversial bill was approved with 72 votes against 63, a year after the Catalan government held an informal referendum on independence, which Madrid declared illegal.

MPs from the coalition Junts pel Si (Together for Yes), which includes acting prime minister Artur Mas’ center-rightist CIU party and the small leftist CUP, threw their votes behind the resolution. 

Both parties together hold the majority in the chamber since local elections in September.

Monday’s historic resolution ended with ceremonies in which regional representatives from both sides waved Catalan and Spanish flags inside the chamber.

The resolution says the parliament is not beholden to decisions by the Spanish central government – the first time in Spanish history that this has happened. 

The motion gives Catalan lawmakers 30 days to start working on a new Catalan constitution that will be put to a vote in a later referendum, and on legislation to create a new tax and social security administration. 

The end result would be a fully independent republic.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy warned in a televised speech that his government would appeal the decision at the Constitutional Court.

“The government will not allow this to continue,” he declared.

“Catalonia is not going to disconnect from anywhere, and there is going to be no break-up,” he said.

Catalonia, a region of 7.5 million people in Spain’s northeast, has its own distinctive culture and language. 

A long-running separatist movement in Catalonia has been fueled by politicians who protest that the rich, industrialized region is contributing too much to the national budget in order to subsidize the country’s poorer provinces. 

Source: Rudaw.net

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Catalonia approves plans for secession from Spain

Catalonia’s regional parliament has approved a plan to set up a road map for independence from Spain by 2017, in defiance of repeated calls by the central government in Madrid, which has branded the secessionist campaign as totally illegal.

Lawmakers on Monday passed the motion by 72 to 63 votes. The proposal was initially handed in by pro-independence MPs from the Together for Yes alliance and the extreme left-wing Popular Unity Candidacy.

The two parties submitted the proposal to the parliament after gaining a majority in September's regional elections.

This was the first session of the legislature, which is based in the northeastern city of Barcelona, since the September election. Following the Monday vote, pro-secession lawmakers lauded the approval of the motion as a great victory.

There is a growing cry for Catalonia to not merely be a country, but to be a state with everything that means,” said Raul Romeva, the head of the parliamentary majority behind the motion.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had threatened to take legal action if Catalan lawmakers opt for independence.

The government in Madrid has pledged to ask the Constitutional Court to declare the resolution void if it is passed. The Court had on Thursday ruled that the vote could go ahead. Spanish media said, however, that the body would quickly rule the plan illegal, although lawmakers have reportedly inserted a measure into the law which allows the regional government to ignore such a ruling.

The road map also gives a 30-day ultimatum to the incoming government to start drafting a new Catalan constitution, which would later be voted on in a referendum. The regional government would then begin establishing a new tax office and social security administration.

The pro-secessionists face not only internal pressure, which could seriously derail or slow down their bid to break away from Spain, but also a call from the European union which has said that an independent Catalonia will have to apply separately to join the 28-nation bloc.

Catalonia is home to 7.5 million people and accounts for a fifth of Spain’s economic output. Many Catalans have accused the government of siphoning off their tax money, saying the regional state will be more prosperous in economic terms if it gains secession.

A symbolic referendum on independence was held in 2014 with more than 80 percent voting in favor in what Madrid described as an unconstitutional move. 

Source: PRESSTV.COM

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Negara Sabah Pasti Akan Merdeka Bila Sampai Masanya!

Saya sempat bercerita dengan pegawai imigresen Singapura.

Dia cakap, Johor dalam proses mau keluar Malaysia, dan Saya cakap Sabah juga sama.

Saya kata pada dia, sekali Sabah Merdeka tetap Merdeka.

Dia cakap, "Johor Such a big Country", terus saya balas, Sabah far more bigger country than Johor. Dia terus bilang "You are very Proud about Sabah ya", Of Course Saya bilang.

Last dia tanya, Do you think Sabah better without Malaysia?

Then saya jawab, we will become one of the richest country once we are "out" from Malaysia.

Paling last dia jawab, Your Time Will Come, like Us...Dont Worry!! ^^ Amen.

DSCC

Singapura

Source: DS Chazy Chaz

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