Things seem fraught on the Iberian Peninsula and little more than a week has passed since the referendum in Catalonia resulted in more than 90% of voters favouring severing ties with Spain and declaring the region independent - despite claims of only a 42% voter turnout and rumours of Catalans voting more than once. Although outside forces appear keen to denounce the referendum as illegal (such as the Spanish Prime Minister, King Felipe VI of Spain and even the European Commission), nothing will deter those hungry for self-determination and yesterday (October 10th 2017) saw Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, declare the region independent.
However, Puigdemont placed certain caveats upon the independence declaration, such as seeking to entreat talks with Madrid, though the Catalan leader's desire for this has garnered a lukewarm response in the Spanish capital. Spanish Prime Minister, Marcus Rajoy, has even intimated that he will place the Catalan regional politicians behind instigating the referendum could face arrest and trial for sedition at the hands of the Spanish parliament. Threats extend to Spain attempting to remove businesses out of the Catalan region in a punitive measure against Barcelona's free expression, trying to hit Spain's wealthiest region in the wallet. Adding a demand to know whether Catalan has declared independence or not, wanting a definitive answer by October16th, though this plea for clarification comes from a need for Madrid to restrict Catalonia's self-rule.
As far as the EU are concerned, they have threw their weight behind Madrid and Rajoy, issuing similar threats that the UK heard before the Brexit vote. Tropes echo.from Brussels such as independence means Catalonia couldn't join the EU if it became an independent state and of course, Spain would instantly use their Veto to ban a Catalan entry into the organisation. Integration only works on the terms of Viceroy Juncker and his vainglorious Empress Merkel, those who dissent from Imperial edicts appear pariahs and it speaks volumes about the long term goals of the European Union. It seems obvious to any Eurosceptic that the EU stopped being about trade long ago, and has ventured further into their Draconian dream of tieing Europe up into one huge trade cartel and it seems Barcelona is not welcome unless they play ball.
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