Fredbargate

Pro-independence parties in Spain's Catalonia region have won an absolute majority in regional elections, near complete results show.

With more than 90% of the votes counted, the main separatist alliance and a smaller party won 72 seats in the 135-seat regional parliament.

Catalonia vote: Pro-independence parties win elections - BBC News

Dick Dasterdly

It's going to be interesting from now on.
Rajoy will not be a happy bunny, but I can't say I've any sympathy for him.
Hopefully he gets chopped down to size come the National Election.

missile

It will be very interesting to see how "We will resist separation by any means possible" turns out :-)

amideislas

I for one, think it's great that people are finally shedding their apathy.

It will be interesting to see how Rajoy (and the EU) put this one down. Another economic extortion, I reckon.

Retired in Euskadi

So, everybody has won. The independence parties gained more seats. And more people voted for no separation than those that did.

The main problem will not come from Madrid or the EU. It'll be when people realise that Barça will no longer be in La Liga or that there will be no Barça-Real Madrid derby.

Boseley

Will other regions also now seek independence or further autonomy, Basque country, or the Canary Islands.

EsuriJohn

Gibraltar even!

amideislas

Will the balearics want to stick with Catalonia? There's been an independence movement here as long as I remember.

All fluff anyway. The EU won't ever let it happen, should Madrid fail to stop it.

Fredbargate

That was not the impression I got from the Scotch debacle

Dick Dasterdly

How can the EU stop them ?
I don't suppose they have any more to lose than the UK from not being in the EU.
Unlike most of Spain, theyre strong enough to stand on their own two feet.
In any event the crumbling EU needs them more than vice versa.

Their biggest problem is from within and the lefty nutters that hold the balance of power.

amideislas

Same way they stopped Greece from pursuing its goals.

Look, all this new infrastructure didn't come from heaven (or Spain). All the EU needs to do is require the new state of Catalonia to "apply" for EU membership, with a tongue in cheek. The Catalan powers that be will know precisely what that veiled threat means. Years, if not decades of "going it alone" before they can even "qualify". Not to mention whatever other hurdles might be quietly imposed. And no more grants for airports, roads, etc...

But you're right, the leftys might figure they can spend themselves into a bailout...

Dick Dasterdly

Unlike the Greeks and much of Spain the Catalans tend to have their heads screwed on the right way in regard to business affairs.

I think they will plan and be able to deal reasonably well with most eventualities without relying on possible EU membership to dish them bags of candy.
In any event EU funds are now being absorbed elsewhere, there's not enough money to go around and Spain's vanity project days are over.

I notice that some of the more recently joined EU members are already waking up to the fact that it is far from what they expected and are beginning to question whether or not the positives outweigh the negatives.

Dick Dasterdly

Catalan government slams 'political lawsuit' brought against Artur Mas - The Local

Tough times lie ahead for Mas.
Rajoy wants his head on a stick and the lefties don't want him as top dog in the independence movement.