To split or not to split? Where next for Spain and Catalonia? (Part 1)

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It's the land of Dali, Gaudi, Pep Guardiola, tourism, industries, mountains, sea ports - and most recently, also very vocal and emotional separatist sentiment. Catalonia's regional election on Dec. 21 seems to have sparked as many questions as it gave answers: If 52 percent of the voters chose anti-independence parties, but the separatists won the biggest number of regional parliamentary seats, how can the region move forward?
As Catalonia and Madrid embark on a new chapter of Spain's separatist saga, our team has visited Madrid, Barcelona and beyond to find out more about the history of the region. Where does the independence movement come from? What role does Catalonia's distinct culture play in the separatist movement? And how might the central government handle the crisis?
In Part 1, we meet Catalan MEP Ernest Urtasun from “Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds” (Initiative for Catalonia Greens). Although he says he feels very Catalan, he doesn’t necessarily favour independence for Catalonia. Jordi Sole, MEP from the pro-independence party “Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya” (The Republican Left of Catalonia), on the other hand, tells us why he supports an independent Catalonia.
Also in Part 1, a story by Isabelle Romero and Anais Guerard on the roots of "Catalanism".
Video: Stéphane Bodenne, Johan Bodin
Editing: Aude Gourichon
Sound: Colin Idier

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[Jamfar]

How did she make that jump from the nationalist saying independence by democratic means, to asking "does that mean no more illegal referendums". Referendums, illegal or not are democratic. It's like asking "no more illegal protest", protests are necessary part of democratic process even when not sanctioned by the government.

[marksmadhousemetaphysicalm]

Growing independence movements more likely to cause disintegration of the EU...not increase...many nations have separatist movements within them...Holland...Italy...even Germany...a successful split would signal those groups that wish to leave that now is the time to act. The constituent nations of the EU very likely would recoil in a nationalist panic at the loss of economic and political leverage and either refuse to admit these potential new members or quit the union. If Scotland quits the UK, it will be an interesting test of the integration of the EU body politic...🤔. The next decade is decisive...either closer ties or the end of the EU...and the Catalan question is most definitely part of that movement...as far as Brexit...they’re likely to leave with no resolution...obviously...its what NI and Scotland do that matter across the channel...oy, what a mess...I remember watching the EU treaties signed...hopefully this isn’t what ends it...

[intellectualnerd]

You want to be democratic will you are breaking the law

[JoaoSoares-rsec]

Unity strength survive, breaking weakness destruction, the end

[tomsuny]

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