A few years ago I met some touring Spaniards in Chicago and asked them where in Spain should I go? They quickly replied with, "Everywhere, but Barcelona! Barcelona is part of Catalonia and Catalonia is not Spain!" I didn't say anything, I just smiled and nodded, but for years after that, I've heard more than one Spaniard say the same thing, and now over the past few weeks the Spanish government has been fighting in the country's top court against a motion that was passes in the Catalan parliament supporting independence from Spain.
Prime Minister, Rajoy has asked the court to suspend all activities and stated that Catalonia is "trying to liquidate the unity of a nation with more than five centuries of history." However, if Catalonia was not as wealthy as it is and did not represent 20% of Spain's GDP, then it would be let go without hesitation.
Nonetheless, the strikes have risen in Catalonia which is something that the Prime Minister has reacted with threatening to "cut off" Catalonia and attacking their autonomous police force called the Mossos.
As for now, all that is left is to wait and see how the court rules, and whether or not the world will have a 'new nation state.'
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34787795
Rosie T
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