THE Scottish Government’s strategy for a second independence referendum should act as an example for Catalonia, according to the president of one of the country’s largest pro-independence organisations.
Speaking to the National, Dolors Feliu, who last month became president of the 80,000-strong Assemblea Nacional Catalana or Catalan National Assembly (ANC), welcomed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement earlier this week of plans for a further vote on Scottish independence in October 2023.
Feliu commented: “In a context of awakening of stateless nations across Europe, and of their aspirations to become independent states, this new Scottish roadmap reinforces the validity of the unilateral path, and legitimizes fait accompli as a way to advancing the processes of self-determination around the world.”
Feliu added that the Scottish Government’s strategy – which includes seeking confirmation on the legality of holding a new referendum without Westminster’s permission from the Supreme Court, and potentially treating the next UK General Election as a “de facto referendum” – was something of which the Catalan independence movement should “take a good note when it comes to reconstructing a new shared strategy that allows to overcome the current historical deadlock, and to deal with the growith of repression and authoritarianism in Spain, through a renewed process of national liberation.”
Feliu’s comments follow similar statements from other high-profile figures within the Catalan independence movement, which has so far been broadly supportive of Sturgeon’s referendum announcement this week.
Jordi Turull, the new leader of the pro-independence Catalan party Junts, wrote on Twitter: “From Catalonia, we convey our full support for the @scotgov and First Minister @NicolaSturgeon to push for an independence referendum in October 2023. The Scottish way is the democratic way, an approach we Catalans also share, to achieve independence.”
Junts’ party spokesperson Josep Rius added that the “Scottish way is the peaceful and uncomplicated option,” offering “all our support in the path to self-determination.”
Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya MEP Jordi Solé also wrote on social media: “C’mon Scotland! We wish you all the best, all our support and solidarity from Catalonia!”, while Eulàlia Reguant of the left-wing CUP party commented that the new Scottish referendum would “set the European Union agenda.”
Reguant continued: "If in 2014, Scotland already paved the way for the Catalan 2017 independence referendum, now we have the same situation. It is necessary for the Catalan people to take advantage of the opportunity to set a new agenda, as the current government is taking us nowhere.”
While the Catalan Government did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication, Catalonia’s foreign minister Victòria Alsina argued in September of last year that the European Union should give equal regard to the possibilities of Catalan and Scottish independence.
Alsina said: "What goes for Scotland must also go for Catalonia. If Europe is favorable towards Scotland having a referendum, it has to look favorably on Catalonia having a referendum.
"If Scotland were to vote in favor of independence and entered as a new member, this mechanism would have to be applied to Catalonia as well.”
