Question-On 27 October 2017, Catalonia declares itself independent from Spain. Consider the following statements in regards to this and give answer:
(i) The referendum for independence was held on October 1, 2017.
(ii) Before referendum, a resolution of independence was passed by Provincial Parliament of Catalonia with majority of 70:10.
(a) Only (i) is correct.
(b) Only (ii) is correct.
(c) Both (i) and (ii) are correct.
(d) (i) and (ii) are both wrong.
Answer- (a)
Related Facts:
- On October 27, 2017, Catalonia province declared itself independent from Spain after getting majority by the provincial parliament in favor of independence.
- In the provincial parliament of 135 seats, 70 votes were in favor of independence and 10 votes in the opposition.
- The opposition did not participate in this voting.
- Catalonia is financially strong and has about 20 percent of Spain’s national income.
- It is significant that in order to become independent from Spain, a referendum was held in Catalonia on October 1, 2017, which was declared as unconstitutional by the Spanish court.
- In this referendum, 43 percent of the voters took part in which 90 percent of the votes were in favor of independence and 10 percent in opposition.
- After passing the proposal with majority in the provincial parliament, the parliament of Spain ended the autonomy of Catalonia, which would now have direct control of the Spanish government in Catalonia.
- Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy dismissed Catalonia leader Carlos Puedemont and his cabinet.
- The Prime Minister has announced that he will be holding the law on December 21, 2017 and again in a fair manner.
- It is notable that in Spain, autonomy was given to Catalonia before the Civil War, which was abolished under General Francisco’s leadership from 1939-1975.
- After the death of Jan Franco, it was re-granted with political and cultural autonomy by the 1978 constitution, which received more force by the Act of 2006.
- But in 2010 the Spanish court snatched all the powers from him.
- In the elections of the year 2015, the new government was elected under the leadership of Carlos Piedmont, in Catolonia, who promised to make a referendum for Catalonia’s independence.
Reference:
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/27/europe/catalonia-independence-spain/index.html
http://www.bbc.com/hindi/international-41820820
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/863266/catalonia-catalan-independence-referendum-split-spain-result
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/catalonia-independence-referendum-final-results-90-spain-madrid-barcelona-catalan-latest-a7987026.html