Catalonia has proclaimed its political and legal sovereignty as part of Spain. A referendum is planned for 2014 to become an independent state, Associated Press reports.
85 regional MPs voted for the resolution, 41 voted against it, 2 abstained. Convergence and Union and left republicans voted for the bill. Catalonian socialists and the Spanish People’s Party voted against it.
Half of the Catalonian population wants independence. Most Catalonians would not want independence at the expense of losing membership in the EU.
Catalonia produces about 25% of Spain’s GDP. The local government is unhappy with the way Madrid spends the finances.
