26.06.2014 - 15:50
“Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is losing the independence debate on the streets of Catalonia”, begins the financial information news source Bloomberg in a report on Businessweek’s website. The headline reads: “Catalans Trump Scots With V-for-Victory as Rajoy Shuns Debate”, and refers to the mobilization that the ANC is preparing for Catalonia’s National Day, which, according to Bloomberg could worsen Rajoy’s political situation. It also points out that support for secession has doubled in Catalonia since Rajoy took over the Spanish presidency in 2011.
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Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is losing the independence debate on the streets of Catalonia.
Support for secession in the country’s biggest regional economy has been above 45 percent for the past year compared with 28 percent when the premier took office in 2011, according to regional government pollster Centre d’Estudis d’Opinio. The premier this week ruled out talks with the Catalan government unless it withdraws the referendum planned for Nov. 9.
Felipe VI makes his first visit to Catalonia as king today after making an indirect appeal to the region to remain part of Spain in his proclamation speech last week. A fluent Catalan speaker, Felipe is trying to hold onto a region that accounts for 10 percent of Spain’s tax revenue and a quarter of its exports.
