Why does catalonia hate spain

The advent of democracy and return of Catalan and Basque home rule promised both regions a new era of freedom. Yet their subsequent experiences have been very different. The Basques went through four decades of violent separatism, spearheaded by the terrorist group Eta, but now appear to be pretty content with their lot. Why this sudden role reversal? And how is it going to play out? Any answer is contentious. That is the nature of identity politics.

But talk to players in both regions and a picture does emerge. I lived for long periods in the Basque Country under late Francoism, and both there and in Catalonia during the post-Franco transition, when I joined the FT. He was a Catalan, though a big cheese in Madrid. Only later did I work out that this was not just casual disdain for the Basques but a different Catalan way of looking at the Spanish state. Catalans like to stride the Madrid stage. Basques want control at home, and to play their Madrid role well enough to ensure that.

But in the halcyon days of the transition to democracy, the almost festive nature of Catalan politics seemed a genteel contrast to the constant Basque convulsion. Not just nationalists but the local socialists and communists, who styled themselves Catalanist, called for restored self-government, showcasing the lead role Catalans would play in the transition to democracy and drafting a new constitution.

The Basque Country, or Euskadi, that year resembled a war zone. On the Basque national day of Aberri Eguna , the Spanish police behaved like an occupying force, firing rubber bullets at demonstrators, reporters, open windows, anything that moved. Puigdemont has accused the Spanish government of effectively suspending regional autonomy and declaring a de facto state of emergency. About 40, people took to the streets of Barcelona on Wednesday night to protest against the raids.

No one knows but there will be more cat-and-mouse games between the Spanish government and the Catalan government. However, such a move — coming soon after the controversial raids — would probably prove hugely counter-productive. Why do some Catalans want independence and what is Spain's view?

A demonstrator holds up a Catalan separatist flag in Barcelona. This has since become another highly contentious aspect of local politics and another point of antagonism between Catalonia and the Spanish federal government. This article is an updated version of an article by Jessica Jones. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements.

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Separatists won a slim majority. The following May, Catalonia's parliament swore in Quim Torra as their new president , after Madrid blocked several other candidates. Mr Torra vowed to continue fighting for independence. The sight of Spanish national police beating voters, and politicians being jailed, revived disturbing memories, for some, of the Franco dictatorship.

Carles Puigdemont - then Catalan president - fled abroad with several other leaders. Many who remained were arrested and charged with treason. Spain's Supreme Court finally sentenced nine of the arrested Catalan leaders in October, sparking the latest unrest. Former vice president Oriol Junqueras was handed a year prison sentence for sedition and misuse of public funds.

The other eight receive sentences of between 12 and 9 years. Demonstrators took to the streets in fury and have repeatedly clashed with police in some of the worst street violence to hit Spain in decades. If the separatists do ever manage to split away, it would be hard for Catalonia to win recognition internationally.

New states mostly emerge from situations where ethnic groups have been victims of genocide or other major human rights abuses. Kosovo was a huge humanitarian crisis for Europe - even so, many countries refuse to recognise it as independent.