by ACN｜Barcelona. See how outbreak has evolved since February 25, 2020. Catalonia, especially the northern part, is much less hot than the rest of Spain. Catalonia, a region in northeast Spain, has been under immense pressure as it strives for independence from Spain. Geographically, the Catalonia-Spain area ratio is such that Catalonia accounts for just over six percent of Spain’s territory. Catalonia’s separatist government is adamant it will go ahead with a referendum on October 1 to decide if the region should split from Spain, despite the country’s highest court banning the vote. Spain continues to grapple with the fallout from the Catalan government’s October 1 independence referendum — declared illegal by Spanish authorities and the Constitutional Court. Catalonia is in the northeastern part of Spain. T he conflict over Catalonia is part of a pattern that that began when the Catalonians integrated into Spain through a twelfth-century dynastic marriage, with the understanding that their language, and their local legislative assemblies, known as “courts,” would be safeguarded. Catalonia will be locked down in 10 days' unless the rate of infection decreases, the region's president said today. Yet, Catalonia accounts for almost 20% of Spain’s GDP. Catalonia’s independence movement is back in the headlines after Spain’s Supreme Court jailed nine separatist leaders, prompting days of protests. Yet, according to the Catalan independence referendum of 2017, Catalonia is indeed independent. Catalonia history and referendum, explained What's at stake in Catalonia's referendum for independence, and how did they get there? This is the highest figure for all of Spain’s territories, followed by Catalonia with 356,724. One was the popular movements against the dictatorship, particularly accentuated in the most industrialized parts of Spain, including Barcelona, Bilbao, and Madrid. Catalonia was formerly a principality of the crown of Aragon, and it has played an important role in the history of the Iberian Peninsula. "The government is clearly committed to a reunion, to reconciliation, and to harmony in Catalonia and between Catalonia and the rest of Spain." NSFW BARCELONA — On October 1, 2017, Catalonia voted for independence, despite massive opposition from the central Spanish government. The northeastern region also accounts for about 16 per cent of Spain’s population and a fifth of its economic output. Getty. Coronavirus in Catalonia: daily figures explained in graphs . Spanish Minister of Health, Salvador Illa announced that Spain will receive the first doses of the Moderna vaccine next week. Just recently, the Supreme Court in Spain sentenced nine Catalan politicians and activists to jail for 9-13 years due to an independence bid that took place 2 years prior, in October of 2017. Catalan Independence explained… December 23, 2019 February 3, 2020. 2017/10/04. But over the next few centuries, its autonomy continued to go back and forth. Catalonia has its own language and distinctive traditions, and a population nearly as big as Switzerland's (7.5 million). Catalonia, along with the rest of Spain, was to remain under dictatorship until 1975. How many want independence? Catalonia was one of the first Roman possessions in Spain. But in the rest of the world, they will claim that Catalan Independence is nothing but a joke. The crisis first flared in October 2017, when a banned independence referendum was met with a heavy police crackdown. Spain’s stance is that Catalonia can’t declare its independence, under Spain’s constitution. The Unrest in Catalonia, Explained. From the 17th century it was the centre of a separatist movement that sometimes dominated Spanish affairs. Since then, the Catalan parliament has voted to declare independence and Madrid has moved to dissolve the regional government and impose direct rule. Catalonia, which is Spain’s richest region, has a distinct cultural heritage and language. Catalonia’s referendum is highly irregular. Speaking at a press conference following the last cabinet meeting of the year, Sánchez called on everyone to "learn, look ahead and to find a meeting point" because, he said, "when we talk about Catalonia, no one is free from blame." Health experts in Spain have reported cases of domestic contagion, with patients who did not travel to the UK presenting the new variant. To begin with, the unrest triggered by the supreme court’s sentencing last month of Catalonia’s separatist leaders can only be partially explained with reference to … However, majority of these powerful theories fail to explain one particular conflict – Catalan ethnic conflict. Its capital, Barcelona, is an economic hub and a popular destination for many American tourists. 10/18/2019. In Catalonia, they will claim that Catalonia is independent from Spain. If deadlines are met, some 5,800 doses will be in Catalonia by next week according to … The long history of Catalonia helps to explain the deep roots behind the modern independence movement. As the Christmas holidays came to an end on Thursday, Catalonia entered a new local-level lockdown, while the number of coronavirus hospitalizations continues to rise. The push for independence crystallized during the fallout of the global financial crisis in 2008. Catalans demonstrate in Barcelona, Spain against the imprisonment of separatist leaders, October 19 (Fotomovimiento) Protests continue in Catalonia against the imprisonment of nine of the region’s separatist leaders. 06 January 2021 10:24 AM . The same can be said for Spain’s response to it. One of Spain’s most prosperous regions, Catalonia already has a high degree of autonomy. Madrid imposed direct rule on the region shortly after. Two factors intervened to explain the transition of the Spanish State from a dictatorship to a democracy. Tuesday … The number of confirmed Covid-related deaths currently stands at 11,828 in Madrid, and 8,723 in Catalonia. The new "British" strain of the coronavirus has now reached Catalonia.Catalan health minister Alba Vergés confirmed this Thursday that a case of the new strain had been detected in Catalonia: specifically, in a person who resides in Catalonia and recently returned from the United Kingdom.According to the minister, this is the only case known in Catalan territory at present, but she … Many cultural identifying Catalans think of their region as one that had been historically independent before 1714 and it deserves the independence that it had before that. Every time that Catalonia has revolted - in pictures Independence Referendum 2017. Even so, the crisis in Spain is far from over, and Catalonia may yet become Europe’s newest nation-state. Why are the Catalans upset? Vergés stressed the Catalan government's … The region is also greener than Southern Spain as it gets more rain, and it has different kinds of crops agrown. Catalonia is a very divisive region. SHARE. After the war, Spain kept Catalonia, and Catalonia kept its parliament, laws and language. Nick Ottens October 23, 2019 July 31, 2020. However, the region harbours a list of historic grievances, which got aggravated during the 1939-1975 Franco dictatorship, when its culture and politics were quashed. Irene Baqué, Bruno Rinvolucri, Sam … Spain is a diverse country integrated by contrasting entities with varying economic and social structures, languages, and historical, political and cultural traditions. Catalonia’s quarrel with Spain explained. Catalonia will remain a part of Spain — for now The Catalan president said he had the right to declare independence, but proposed suspending that … How can this end? A Catalonia vs. Spain economy comparison does much to explain what may be driving much of the separatist movement. English version by Simon Hunter. BBC reports that the northeast region of Catalonia is one of Spain's 17 autonomous communities. 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