Catalan independence movement loses momentum in Spain

Barcelona - The separatist movement in the north-eastern Spanish region of Catalonia has suffered a new blow as few people bothered to vote in unofficial independence referendums organized in more than 200 localities, according to voter turnout figures given by organizers on Monday.

About 20 per cent of eligible voters went to polls in the localities, which included several large cities such as Gerona and Llerida, on Sunday.

However, 92.5 per cent of those who did vote backed the independence of the economically powerful region of about 7 million residents.

Similar large-scale votes have previously been staged - in December and again in February - in a total of 240 localities. Support for independence was massive, but voter turnout went down from 27 per cent in December to 21 per cent in February.

The referendums were organized by separatist associations, without being recognized by the Spanish government.

The other Spanish region to have a major independence movement is the Basque region. The Catalan movement does not have a violent component, while the Basque movement includes the militant separatist group ETA.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/320571,catalan-independence-movement-loses-momentum-in-spain.html.