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| Voters deal blow to Catalan president's hopes for independence referendum | Voters deal blow to Catalan president's hopes for independence referendum |
| (10 days later) | |
| The Catalan president leading the region's most determined bid for independence in decades has emerged much weaker from elections he called to press for a referendum on breaking away from Spain. | The Catalan president leading the region's most determined bid for independence in decades has emerged much weaker from elections he called to press for a referendum on breaking away from Spain. |
| The final count gave Artur Mas's Convergència i Unió (CiU) 50 seats, down from the 62 it won when elections were last held, two years ago, and far fewer than the 68 needed to win approval for a referendum in the 135-member Catalan parliament without settling differences with smaller parties. | The final count gave Artur Mas's Convergència i Unió (CiU) 50 seats, down from the 62 it won when elections were last held, two years ago, and far fewer than the 68 needed to win approval for a referendum in the 135-member Catalan parliament without settling differences with smaller parties. |
| CiU now needs an alliance with the separatist Esquerra party, which surged into second place with 21 seats, from fourth spot in 2010. Although Esquerra has often criticised Mas's minority government, it has not ruled out an agreement. | CiU now needs an alliance with the separatist Esquerra party, which surged into second place with 21 seats, from fourth spot in 2010. Although Esquerra has often criticised Mas's minority government, it has not ruled out an agreement. |
| In third and fourth place, respectively, the Socialists and People's party will together hold 39 seats, but both are firmly opposed to independence. | In third and fourth place, respectively, the Socialists and People's party will together hold 39 seats, but both are firmly opposed to independence. |
| In his first reaction to the results, Mas insisted he would stay on as president and any government would have to include CiU, but did not explicitly mention the referendum. | In his first reaction to the results, Mas insisted he would stay on as president and any government would have to include CiU, but did not explicitly mention the referendum. |
| "This will require reflection by other parties, because it is evident that CiU cannot lead the government and the process alone," he told supporters in Barcelona. | "This will require reflection by other parties, because it is evident that CiU cannot lead the government and the process alone," he told supporters in Barcelona. |
| Unlike the Scottish referendum set for 2014 in agreement with London, the central government in Spain has pledged to block an independence vote for Catalonia by appealing to the constitutional court, which stopped the Basque country from holding a similar plebiscite in 2008. | Unlike the Scottish referendum set for 2014 in agreement with London, the central government in Spain has pledged to block an independence vote for Catalonia by appealing to the constitutional court, which stopped the Basque country from holding a similar plebiscite in 2008. |
| Apart from opposition in Madrid, one of Mas's biggest difficulties is uncertainty over whether a newly independent Catalonia could remain within the European Union and the euro. | Apart from opposition in Madrid, one of Mas's biggest difficulties is uncertainty over whether a newly independent Catalonia could remain within the European Union and the euro. |
| The European commission president, José Manuel Barroso, said in Spain last weekend that EU treaties required breakaway states to join the queue for membership. | The European commission president, José Manuel Barroso, said in Spain last weekend that EU treaties required breakaway states to join the queue for membership. |
| Catalonia has its own distinct language and culture, and many Catalans think they would be better off without Spain, because some estimates show they pay more in tax than they get back from Madrid. In September, 1.5 million people flocked to an independence rally in Catalonia, which prompted Mas to call for early elections and a referendum. | Catalonia has its own distinct language and culture, and many Catalans think they would be better off without Spain, because some estimates show they pay more in tax than they get back from Madrid. In September, 1.5 million people flocked to an independence rally in Catalonia, which prompted Mas to call for early elections and a referendum. |
| In 1934, the Spanish army put down an independence revolt led by the then Catalan leader, Lluís Companys, which added to simmering tension before the 1936-39 civil war. The dictator Francisco Franco had Companys shot in 1940 and suppressed all regional aspirations for decades, but after his death Spain adopted a democratic constitution in 1978, which gave considerable autonomy to all 17 of the country's regions, including Catalonia. | In 1934, the Spanish army put down an independence revolt led by the then Catalan leader, Lluís Companys, which added to simmering tension before the 1936-39 civil war. The dictator Francisco Franco had Companys shot in 1940 and suppressed all regional aspirations for decades, but after his death Spain adopted a democratic constitution in 1978, which gave considerable autonomy to all 17 of the country's regions, including Catalonia. |
| A recent survey by the Catalan government-funded research group CEO estimated that 57% of Catalans would vote to split from Spain. However, a Sigma Dos poll for the Guardian on Thursday showed that many Catalans would be reluctant to part with the Spanish language, passports or Lionel Messi and his Barça teammates playing football in La Liga. | A recent survey by the Catalan government-funded research group CEO estimated that 57% of Catalans would vote to split from Spain. However, a Sigma Dos poll for the Guardian on Thursday showed that many Catalans would be reluctant to part with the Spanish language, passports or Lionel Messi and his Barça teammates playing football in La Liga. |
| Spanish business leaders – many of them Catalans – have said independence would have dire consequences for Catalonia, which would lose its main market, as well as for Spain, which relies on the region for almost one-fifth of its economic output. | Spanish business leaders – many of them Catalans – have said independence would have dire consequences for Catalonia, which would lose its main market, as well as for Spain, which relies on the region for almost one-fifth of its economic output. |
| José Manuel Lara, head of the Barcelona-based publishing group Planeta, threatened to move what is the world's sixth-largest publisher away from Catalonia if the region secedes from Spain. | José Manuel Lara, head of the Barcelona-based publishing group Planeta, threatened to move what is the world's sixth-largest publisher away from Catalonia if the region secedes from Spain. |
| "There is no publishing business that has its headquarters in a foreign country, or one that speaks another language," Lara said in September. For the central government in Madrid, moves towards Catalan independence could unsettle financial markets as Spain struggles to convince its European partners that it can borrow money at affordable rates and thus avoid a bailout. | "There is no publishing business that has its headquarters in a foreign country, or one that speaks another language," Lara said in September. For the central government in Madrid, moves towards Catalan independence could unsettle financial markets as Spain struggles to convince its European partners that it can borrow money at affordable rates and thus avoid a bailout. |
| "There was no point holding elections when the priority should have been fighting the crisis," the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, said after the EU summit in Brussels on Friday. | "There was no point holding elections when the priority should have been fighting the crisis," the Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, said after the EU summit in Brussels on Friday. |
| Falling to the third- from second-largest party in the Catalan parliament, the Socialists have voiced frustration that high unemployment and unpopular spending cuts have not been prominent in campaigning, although across Spain they have sparked massive street protests and, on 14 November, the country's second general strike this year. | Falling to the third- from second-largest party in the Catalan parliament, the Socialists have voiced frustration that high unemployment and unpopular spending cuts have not been prominent in campaigning, although across Spain they have sparked massive street protests and, on 14 November, the country's second general strike this year. |
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