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Catalonia and Spain closely watch Scotland's independence referendum

Catalans see some hope in Scottish separatism, Spanish government views Thursday's referendum as "setting an unlawful precedent."

By Matt Bradwell
A man holds a Yes Vote badge on the day Scottish residents vote on whether to remain a part of the United Kingdom, in Glasgow, Scotland, on September 18, 2014. UPI/Hugo Philpott
A man holds a Yes Vote badge on the day Scottish residents vote on whether to remain a part of the United Kingdom, in Glasgow, Scotland, on September 18, 2014. UPI/Hugo Philpott | License Photo

BARCELONA, Spain, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- As the world watches Scotland's independence referendum, perhaps nowhere outside of the United Kingdom has more of a stake in the results than the Catalonia region of Spain.

Like Scotland, Catalonia is culturally and ethnically different from the government and monarchy it falls under. And like Scotland, Catalonia's borders were drawn by centuries-old agreements and conflicts, later maintained and reinforced by 20th-century post-war politics.

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Unlike Scotland, the northeast region of Spain is not recognized as a separate country cooperating in a union, rather it is legally considered a part of, and is taxed and controlled by, Madrid, with virtually no influence over its own laws. This proves especially frustrating for Catalans as their region generates a significant portion of both Spain and Europe's economies.

"The size of the Catalan economy -- 19% of GDP and 26% of Spanish exports -- means it is systemically important, or risky, within Spain, in the same way Spain -- as the fifth largest European economy -- is within Europe," explains the Spain Report in an editorial published the day before the Scottish referendum.

"If the Catalan question becomes problematic for Spain, Spain will become problematic for Europe, at the same time as Europe attempts to deal with the ramifications of the Scottish question, whichever way Scots vote tomorrow."

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"Catalonia's not Spain," former resident Kaitlyn Delaney explained to UPI. Delaney moved to the region in 2012 from the United States to teach English. After a year, she relocated to the Basque Country, a region of Spain with similar territorial and political issues as well as its own active independence movement.

"[Catalans] have a different culture and language -- everything from their business to their lifestyle is different from Spain."

A week prior to Scotland's vote, Catalans took to the streets of Barcelona to celebrate their National Day, forming a massive 7-mile-long "v" for "vote," in the hope of drawing attention to their own feelings of unrepresented occupation.

"It's very important that Sept. 11 be a big success [to] pressure the Catalan government to hold the referendum," Carme Forcadell, head of the Catalan National Assembly, Catalonia's largest pro-independence group, told the Wall Street Journal.

Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo dismissed the separatist notions, warning, "The only thing the government can do is use all the means at its disposal ... only the law, but the full force of the law."

García-Margallo went on to caution Scottish independence would set "an unlawful precedent."

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"[The Spanish government] shouldn't think that with this they will stop the course of history," countered Catalonia Regional President Arthur Mas.

"[Thursday's vote] means hope that nowadays freedom is possible," Catalonia native Joel Canyigueral echoed to UPI. Despite increased optimism, Canyigueral cautioned only history will determine the impact of Scotland's potential independence on the region.

"[Scottish independence] is important but it won't really mean anything here unless Catalonia becomes free."

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