France's Catalans want more regional autonomy

Nearly 500,000 Catalans across Spain’s border in France are watching Sunday’s referendum on independence closely.
Many say they want autonomy in areas such as education, the economy, and taxation.
Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler reports from Perpignan, France.

[XXRolando]

I wish Occitans were aware of their own language too.

[Erich]

I love how western governments support the Kurdish independence, but against the idea of independent Catalania or Quebec. Hypocrisy at its finest!

[susanastephens]

300 years & they are still Catalan in their hearts ❤️❤️❤️

[gunnasintern]

Spanish and French Catalonia are one culture divided by borders

[tonyhawk]

In France we are not decentralized like Spain. One republic, one people, one language.

[orestes]

Me encanta Catalan y Occitan. Quiero aprender.

[mrsmith]

I support autonomy, for nations, but sticking together, we are stronger together, leaning on each other, that said jailing politicians is wrong, surely there can be a deal, like Catalonia staying part of Spain but as a republic,

[mabanomet]

They wish they have the autonomy spanish catalans have. They have films tv series, books, etc.

[sabrinacarmelotes]

Didn't know they have Catalan in France

[jonnykaykorn]

Occitan and catalan were once the same thing.

[rudiechinchilla]

AH BUT THEY DON T WANT TO SECEDE LIKE THE OTHERS IN SPAIN DO

[vinm]

Catalonia is asking for democracy. The fascists in Madrid crafted the Spanish Constitution after the brutal dictator Franco died. The founder of Rajoy's People's Party (Farga) was a fascist. The judge who ardered the arrests of Catalan politicians served under Franco. I hope Spain isn't returning to its past.

[stephenboyd]

Nicola Sturgeon Scotland First Minister has publicly stated her commitment to The Catalan Nationalist Independence Party and has lobbied The Spanish Government to allow the Catalan Nationalist Independence Party to have a Fair and Free Referendum On Catalan Independence from Spain. Nicola Sturgeon actively encourages The Scottish Nationalist Party Members and Supporters to Support Catalan Independence from Spain by carrying the Catalan Nationalist Independence Party Flag at SNP Government Conferences and Rallies and Independence Marches through Glasgow and Edinburgh. Nicola Sturgeon supports her party members by allowing them to lobby The SNP Government Ministers to full support The Catalan Nationalist Independence Party in there quest for a Referendum to gain Independence From Spain. Please forward this message to your friends and Family Relatives In The Catalan National Independence Party with the Beast Wishes fro the Scottish Nationalist Independence Movement in Scotland.
THANK YOU.

[gatogate]

France don't make the same mistake as we did. After granted them their own autonomy, Generalitat re-establishment...and so much allowances. They used all that through the years for adoctrination against their Country Spain.

[urouno]

Spain is a democratic country internationally recognized as such. Two of Spain’s seven founding fathers, responsible for the country’s current constitution, are of Catalan origin. Our constitution is based on the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation. Its ratification in 1978 was the result of a broad consensus across diverse parties, including the Catalan nationalists of Puigdemont’s party, and received support from over 90 percent of the Catalan voters in a referendum.

[omineol]

Catalonia want independence from spain because there are richer than the rest of Spain
but Catalonia look poor compared to France

[urouno]

The principle of territorial integrity constitutes a basic element of contemporary international law. This is a principle that is laid out as a limit to any secessionist pretension that rests on criteria other than those of negotiation with the state in question. By the same token, the right of peoples to self-determination, expressly recognised in the Charter of the United Nations, is only permitted in certain very specific circumstances: former colonies; peoples annexed by conquest, foreign domination or occupation and peoples oppressed by massive and flagrant violations of their human rights. The exercise of these rights must be done in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the other principles of international law that regulate the matter, including, in this regard, the principle of territorial integrity. In summary, it is a right that is not applicable to Catalonia.
Constitutions do not accept the right to secession. It is a constant in comparative constitutional law confirmed by the pronouncement of the High Courts of the countries concerned (Supreme Court of the United States, Supreme Court of Canada, among others). In the case of Spain, the Constitution is based on the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation, the common and indivisible homeland of all Spaniards, and the right to secession is not only not contemplated in our Supreme Law, the constituent legislator expressly rejected the motion put by Deputy Letamendia in the sense of expressly recognising a right to self-determination of the peoples of the state that allowed them to choose between continuing to form part of Spain or forming an independent state (265 vote against, 5 votes in favour and 11 abstentions).
A constitutional reform that entails a substantial change in the model of state must be the product of a decision taken by the Spanish people, where national sovereignty resides, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Constitution itself. Nobody denies the possibility of amending the Constitution: only a few nationalists and secessionists deny it, because they deny that right to the citizenry as a whole, demanding that only a few be entitled to exercise it. All citizens are entitled to participate in political affairs, not just some of them.