Pro-independence
parties are celebrating in Catalonia after winning an absolute
majority in regional elections. Crowds are chanting "invincible,
invincible" and dancing in the streets, expressing their desire
for independence, while EU leaders play down the potential for a
Catalexit.
The main
pro-independence party, the Junts per Si won 72 seats and the smaller
nationalist CUP party won 10 seats in the regional parliament. The
party leaders will now proceed with their promise to create an
independent Catalan state.
"We
have won", regional President Artus Mas told his supporters who
has vowed to separate from Spain within 18 months. But only 47
percent of the votes were cast for pro-independence parties,
suggesting a future referendum may not automatically lead to victory.
Madrid's
conservative government has vowed to reject any push for independence
and has ordered an urgent reform of Spain's constitutional court to
stop any future moves for a breakaway state. But the results don't
just threaten to rock Spanish unity — but its relationship with the
European Union.
Germany has
instantly reacted to regional elections calling for the country to
respect EU treaties, but the citizens of Catalonia may well be able
to have their Catalan cake and eat it.
There is no
plan in place for what happens when an EU member state splits apart.
If Catalonia breaks away from Spain, the state would automatically be
excluded from the EU and the euro.
However,
Spain's constitution says that citizens "living abroad" can
keep their Spanish passports. So, even without being a member of the
EU, citizens of a new Republic of Catalonia would keep their EU
citizenship.
Catalonia,
which produces 20 percent of Spain's gross domestic product, is an
economically healthy region and Barcelona and Madrid aren't keen on
losing it. And neither is Brussels.
Another
potential split in the Eurozone is another headache for the European
Commission, which has only just finalized bailout talks with Greece,
avoiding a Grexit, and faces more rounds of reform discussions with
Britain keen to reform its relationship with the EU, paving the way
for a potential Brexit.
Not to
mention the refugee crisis which has split political opinion in
almost every member state and led to walls and fences being built
across an "open Europe".
Commenting
on the regional elections in Catalonia, the European Commission (EC)
spokesman Margaritis Schinas said: "The EC, in principle, does
not comment on regional elections, [it is] an internal matter for
Spain."
"[It's]
not for the Commission to express a position on a matter of internal
organization related to the constitutional provisions of a member
state."
The EU maybe
be playing down their interest in regional elections — but as
momentum gathers in "invincible" Catalonia, the Commission
won't be able to ignore a Catalexit, and the potential economic
fallout for Spain — and the Eurozone.
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