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Why Madrid does not want an independent Catalunya?
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Despite multiple friendly requests by the Autonomous Community of Catalunya to be allowed to hold a referendum to decide its future, the people of this Mediterranean state have been continuously denied their right of free choice. The question is, why doesn’t Spain want a free Catalunya? Catalunya is by far the richest state in Spain. The Catalan Republic has been, for a long time, the engine of economic growth for the Spanish. Its language, Catalan, is not only spoken in Barcelona, but also all over Catalunya. Additionally, it is also spoken in Valencia, Islas Baleares, Huesca, Zaragoza, Teruel, Murcia, Andorra, France and Italy. The Catalan-speaking territory extends for 60,000 square kilometers, with around 9 million people who speak Catalan and its different dialects. The origins of the Catalan language date to the VIII and IX centuries, although, in its written form, it was only discovered in the XII century. As many other nations, Catalunya has a very rich and ancient history. Part of that history includes the Catalans desire to be a free, independent Republic. Independence is not something new to Catalunya. In fact, they were independent and self-sufficient for a while, until recently -historically-speaking- when the Spanish Crown conquer Catalunya by force. Catalunya has been since a part of the Spanish Kingdom, which includes other regions that are also battling for independence from Spain. Those regions include, but are not limited to, the Basque Country, Andalucia and, of course, Catalunya. What is it that Catalunya has that Madrid wants to keep? When asked about his refusal to aid Catalunya in its desire to be independent, the current political head of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, says that Catalunya’s intent to become independent is illegal. Unfortunately, neither Rajoy nor any other representative from Spain has done anything to allow Catalunya to carry out what the Spanish government could approve of as legal. Last time the government of Catalunya attempted to seek support for a vote to decide whether people wanted to become independent, or whether they wanted to remain as part of Spain, Rajoy threatened to send the military if the Catalans continued with their dreams of independence. Furthermore, in the last few months, the Spanish Parliament approved a law that made it illegal to criticize the Spanish Crown or government officials in Madrid. Anyone who uses free speech to show disapproval of the government or who dares to crack a joke about the Spanish Crown can be thrown in jail. Despite the massive popular support by the Catalans to hold a free and open referendum to decide their own fate, Madrid has refused to give any validity or support to such a popular initiative. According to Rajoy and other Madrid-based politicians such as Soraya Santamaria, any move to seek independence is a political sham, and an attempt by Catalan leaders to use the political process for personal gain. Reality contradicts what Madrid says In spite of the ongoing economic crisis in Europe, Catalunya continues to be very successful when it comes to providing the best of the best for its people. That is not to say that there aren’t any problems. Like many other states, Catalunya does suffer from poverty, indebtedness, and political mismanagement. However, there are a series of indicators that no other state in Spain, or nation in Europe enjoy. Let’s take Catalunya’s capital, Barcelona, as an example. While visiting Barcelona in August, I learned that the city was the first smart city in Spain, the 4th in Europe and the 10th in the world. It is the 4th city in Europe when it comes to scientific production and excellence. Barcelona is home to two of the best business schools in Europe and is considered the 4th most creative city in the world. The results of these achievements are seen pretty much anywhere in Catalunya. From transportation to city design, from its successful touristic business to its environmentally-friendly record. Barcelona was the first city in the world to receive the Biosphere Certification for its commitment to sustainability and environmentally-conscious touristic model. Barcelona is the 3rd European city with the most international investment, the first for its Port infrastructure and the number one city in Europe when it comes to innovation. Both Barcelona and Catalunya have the highest life expectancies in the continent and in the world. While men live on average up to 80 years of age, women reach almost 87 years. The success of Catalunya, which for many visitors seems to be immune to the crisis, goes hand in hand with the success of its capital city, Barcelona. Most business activity concentrates on this superbly functioning metropolis. An example of its success is its tourism industry which each year attracts millions of people from all over Europe, Asia and Latin America. Lately, visitors have discovered that there is much more to see than Barcelona. While visiting the city, it is easy and convenient to take a train, subway or bus to nearby alternative beach locations such as Sitges or Tossa de Mar. For those who seek a quieter, more peaceful environment, it is easy to take a train and visit Montserrat, in the Catalunya mountains. But Barcelona is not all about tourism. The city is number one in Europe for quality of life for its workers. In Barcelona, the so-called creative industry provides jobs to some 100,000 people. As in many other aspects of Catalan life, the tourism industry is managed […]
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