stuboy

Their goals are well stated. Independence. But what it would it mean for them and how would it impact on the rest of Spain and particularly ex-pats who currently reside there?

Fredbargate

North Gibraltar

agoreira

The Spanish football team would be on a par with Gib without the Catalans.!

cricketman

Take all the Catalans out and Spain would still be one of the best 3 or 4 teams in the world

e.g.

Casillas
Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Albiol, Azpilicueta
David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Javi Martinez, Iniesta
Pedro, Soldado

Actually a Catalan team looks pretty weak, especially up front:

Victor Valdes
Montoya, Pique, Barta, Jordi Alba
Cesc, Busquets, Xavi, Sergi Roberto
Bojan, Cristian Tello

Still probably better than England though!

Answer to the original Q, yes Catalunya would survive without Spain, but Spain probably wouldnt survive without Catalunya and would break up into the autonomous provinces

steviedeluxe

Depends a bit on how nasty the break-up is.
Since we're talking about football - I can't see the money men at either Barca or Real choosing to lose earnings from El Clasico. So some way would be found to keep those two teams playing in the same tournament. However other teams like Girona, Espanyol or 'Nasti would either fold or become a totally different entity if they were no longer in La Liga.
A lot of small businesses in say Barcelona have links to Spanish concerns - if only to import jamon or even workers! An estranged breakup would hurt many on both sides of the new imposed Iron Curtain. And since Catalunya would need to start outside the Eurozone, who would trust the local politicians with the local currency?
In the long term, Catalunya has a lot of companies that do well in the exporting game, so the country could survive and indeed prosper. But it would mean a lot of pain in the short term.

IamStu

Still probably better than England though!

I would have to agree with that...in fact I´d actually feel quite optimistic for our chances for once in a very long time.
As for the Barcelona squad, though I´m sure La Liga would find a way around it, surely they should only be allowed to take part in their own Catalan League?
Much like the SPL and the Prem...or is it a case of Barcelona wanting their cake and eating it?
I´m sorry to say I find the whole thing quite ridiculous.
Should London be made it´s own state based on the wealth per capita ... is it fair that London combined pays more tax than any other city?
I appreciate there is a long history but for goodness sake, so does everywhere else. Rant over.

jimenato

There's no real reason why Catalan club sides shouldn't continue to play in La Liga. Cardiff, Swansea and Newport play in the English leagues in spite of Wales having its own, and the Glasgow sides have been talking about joining the English leagues for years - and that could well happen if England gets independence.

Dick Dasterdly

jimenato

What's the problem?

agoreira

Can't see one myself, Cardiff and Swansea playing in the Premier League, no reason Barca couldn't do the same.
Edit. No, not play in the Premier League! although, there's a thought. Plenty of Spanish already playing there.

agoreira

The polls are showing those wanting independence running a tad over 50%, so it's not clear cut whether they would achieve it or not. Millions in Catalonia are immigrants or non catalans (loads from Andalucia etc charnegos!) not so sure they be voting for it. The Catalans pay more into the pot than they get out (reminds me of somewhere else that wants out!) and have managed to run up a massive debt of ~ €50 billion, they keep popping back asking the government for more money. Some of their own back maybe. Expats? I doubt that's even crossed their mind, that's the least of their worries.

Rambling Rose

They could only survive if they were allowed to stay in the EU and I think they have been told that couldn't happen so they would need to get in the queue to rejoin.
I suspect many would be happy with more autonomy within Spain.
There are some real fanatics who want everyone here to speak only catalan. That would have a lot of us incomers on the move. My neighbour and all his children and grandchildren speak Castilian amongst themselves because they believe speaking only catalan really limits their options - children can only go to university or get jobs here, for example.
I suspect the desire for independence will fade over time. It is a reaction to all the oppression of the Franco days.

cricketman

Yes it is, but this feeling has only grown over the past 30 years, not gotten worse

The real problem are the influx of millions of Andalucians and Murcians that Franco facilitated to break up the Catalan nationalist spirit

So to counter that, kids get brain-washed at school about how different Catalans are to the Spanish. The Catalan nationlists have a lot in common with Franco

But saying that, if the people want to become independent then do it, no skin of my nose. Economically they would be worse off for a few years, but eventually they would find their feet, just like the ex-Yugoslav countries are starting to do

IamStu

[QUOTE=cricketman;10816706]Yes it is, but this feeling has only grown over the past 30 years, not gotten worse

The real problem are the influx of millions of Andalucians and Murcians that Franco facilitated to break up the Catalan nationalist spirit

...so they don´t like being European???

cricketman

What has that got to do with anything?

They are Catalan first, European second and Spanish third

Actually many Spaniards classify themselves like that. My wife says she is Asturian first, European second and Spanish third

Basically right wingers are pro-Spain and left wingers are anti-Spain