Catalonia After Elections: More Challenges Ahead
Parties staunchly supporting independence have won the elections to the regional Parliament only in terms of seats, not votes.
independence
Neither necessary, nor good
ATHENS | By Nick Malkoutzis via Macropolis | By working with the Independent Greeks, Alexis Tsipras has taken a sledgehammer to the hopes of those who thought he might seek a more progressive alliance this time.
Spanish economy is improving despite a growing political malaise
BARCELONA | By Joan Tapia | Last month, I warned about the serious political problem in Spain, which was (and is) focused on the Catalonian crisis and the rise of the new political party Podemos. Both could disrupt the political system and kill off imperfect bipartisanship. Meanwhile, the economy was starting to show some signs of improvement. In November, the perception that the economy is improving while politics are worsening has increased and multiplied. It is difficult to argue with the fact that the economy is going better than last year.
Catalonian independence: When rating agencies went further than voters
MADRID | By Álex García
Economic integration (particularly in Europe) provokes nationalism
WASHINGTON | By Pablo Pardo | Since the inception of constitutions in modern nation-states, none have undergone such turbulence as those drawn up in Europe. The raison d’être of the European Union is to avoid further turbulence in the future. It is no coincidence that the violent conflicts that have broken out in Europe since World War Two have been outside the EU, in former Yugoslavia, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia.
Catalan Independence drive defying reality
MADRID | By Sean Duffy | This weekend´s controversial “non-binding consultation” has caused quite the stir in international media over the past number of days. Reports asserted that 80 % of Catalans had voted in favour of Catalonia becoming an independent state. Yet that figure ignores almost 60% of the electorate who chose not to take part in Sunday´s vote. Those numbers point to a rather more nuanced narrative than the one currently being posited by the Catalan independence movement and many reporters.
Self-rule challenge in Catalonia may soon turn into disaster
MADRID | By JP Marín Arrese | Markets are beginning to feel deeply concerned about the mounting uncertainty the separatist movement in Catalonia has created. Observers do not yet discount a unilateral independence declaration, and are becoming increasingly alarmed at the open challenge to Madrid’s authority. Events could yet spiral out of control and into the unknown.
The independence of Catalonia and the future of Spain- reading the small print
MADRID | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | The debate about the independence of Catalonia is at the centre of Spain’s political concerns. The Catalan Government and the parties supporting it -covering a broad spectrum, from the centre to the extreme left- have taken every step to call the referendum (called query) that would open the door to independence. The Spanish authorities have taken steps to prevent a consultation-referendum which it says contravenes the text and spirit of the 1978 Spanish Constitution.
Catalonia independence: not a divorce, but a fiscal pact
MADRID | The Corner | There is nothing better than politics to add volatility to the markets. After Catalan leader Artur Mas formally convoked a Nov. 9 referendum for Catalonia independence, the Spanish government is holding an emergency cabinet meeting Monday to launch a lawsuit aimed at blocking the vote. In the short term this clash could widen spreads in Spain and affect domestic banks with exposure to Catalonia, Morgan Stanley pointed out. The most probable scenario is a fiscal agreement, they believe.
Scottish voted no
madrid | By Álex García