Why some Catalans want independence... and some don't - BBC News 

The Canary Islands have even greater cultural differences from the average Spanish and dont claim independence.

I’m Catalan but I want us to be under Spain.

One of the richest regions playing the victim

When Kosovo declared independence in 2008 (without UN approval and without referendum) BBC didn't have this kind of reporting. Same goes for Crimea

Their arguments do not convince me.

As a Spaniard, I wish Catalonia stayed with us, and instead of them leaving, we could build "a Spain" in which all catalans would like to be part of. I totally defend their right to vote if the want to stay or leave, though, it's their decision.

They didn't want this when Spain economy was good. The Independentist spirit on Catalonia is fueled mostly by huge egoism, a lot of populism, unhealthy nationalism and a shameless manipulation of history.

'Feeling superior in irrational ways'. . . . She said it perfectly. Why do jingoists feel so patriotic based on nonsense? Go trace your heritage and you'll see that your whole argument falls apart

*Cataluña is Spain Love From Barcelona

Every province in Spain has large cultural differences from the others, and there are several distinct languages spoken throughout the provinces. Should they all each become independent based on that fact? The notion seems ridiculous to me.

Lol. They have a different language 😂. In that case most Indian state should ask for Independence from India.

No country in the world would allow such referendum if it's not allowed by constitution. Spain isn't doing anything authoritarian. if Catalans want independence they have to be oppressed by Spain to get support from other countries ,but they aren't oppressed Catalan is official language Universities and schools teach in Catalan they even have their own police. so to gain independence only option is to win independence war. So Catalan separatists are just wasting time.

As someone is not from Spain, myself, I see you guys all looks like, no difference, if you look at the US, some states are reach than others, but you don't see people calling for independence, believe me diversity is something great, you don't know the value of it until you loose it, next time if it happened and you guys get the Independence you will see people within the new Catalonia saying the north is better than the south and so on and so far, believe me stay united and that's what makes you strong, Gracias!

im not hearing any real reasons why they should be atonomous all of the provinces of Spain have their own music, traditions, language etc so.. it makes no sense to me,, for instance Galicia is gaelic celtic..

Let Catalans have debates on for and against independence, and let them vote. Spanish govt. is acting like a dictator.

Im from india.. and in india there are over 25 languages and different culture in different states.. so if catalonia is freed from spain on the basis of this only, then india should spread into 29 different countries 😂😂

Supporting Spain from America. Shame on Catalonian separatists.

If you go to Catalunya from another part of Spain, like I did many time, it looks and feels like Spain. THe people there act exactly like what you would expect of other Spaniards. And not all of the Catalans are catalonian but Spaniards from other parts, likewise there are many 'ethnic' catalonians around Spain proper.

You don't get enough money back? that's so funny knowing the size of your debt.

Don't they owe the Spanish government A LOT of money and want to secede WITHOUT paying that debt?

No soy catalán, pero el humor de los catalanes es la leche. Yo me parto de risa con vosotros.

The English have no idea of ​​what is happening in cataluña.No you ask because if the majority in Catalonia is not separatist because it does not manifest? .. we are simply afraid of the separatist facist regime that is being implemented.

Embrace the difference. #catalunyaesespanya#

I'm Italian but had quite an extensive SpanCat experience. This is my grain of salt and that's what I think is the core of the problem. Spanish national identity was created as an extended Castillian identity, with some Andalusian and other regions folkloric add-ups. Being Spanish became intended as speaking Castillian, period. Other options heavily frowned upon or outwardly repressed. Catalans simply didn't feel fitting in that frame and never have since. They have a distinct language and a strong identity that Spain accepts only if tamed, decaffeinated, and marginalized to a few fiestas with no more importance. Most Catalans have always answered no to that. Spaniards have answered on their side with resentment and hatred, feeling that the Catalan stance was a sort of treason and threat to the survival of the nation. The Catalans obtained an autonomous status as a nationality in 1978, with the right to defend their language and heritage but my direct experience is that the mainstream average Spaniard has never really digested that and trying to clip the nails of Catalans has been a profitable political strategy especially for right party PP, harvesting millions of votes among all those that feel that Catalans are supposedly "breaking the country". Well, after generations of having to crawl hard to maintain their language and identity most Catalans are now heading for the door. I don't think that viable, I find the current proceedings illegal and dangerous but I understand them. Most of my Catalan friends never thought about independence and now they don't look fanatic either about that perspective. What they most say is: "Que más podemos hacer?" What else can we do? A far cry of frustration more than a nationalistic revenge. Solving the conflict would require not a new political pact but a general upgrade of the national image of Spain as a whole. Spaniards thinking of themselves in another way, more ample, more modern. Not Spain One, Great and Free, as Franco said, but Spain Plural, Great and Free. It would be stronger and more stable accepting that is a more diversified culture than its nationalistic myths describe. That's what I hope for that wonderful country but will that happen? For what I've learned and seen, hardly possible.

I am so special and different too. I have my own history and customs. Hey! I think I'm starting my own country lol.

you are all spanish

Free Scotland, too.

Laliga without Barca would be unthinkable

Cataluña IS SPAIN!!!!!!

CATALONIA = SPAIN...

Cataluña siempre será España 🇪🇸😘

Lo que BBC no quiere publicar: La deuda pública de Cataluña creció en el primer trimestre La deuda pública en Cataluña en el primer trimestre de 2017 ha crecido en 345 millones de euros y se sitúa en 75.443 millones.Con esta deuda Cataluña ha sido la Comunidad Autónoma con más deuda de España en el primer trimestre. What the BBC doesn't want you to know: Catalonia is the autonomous community that owes the most money to the State, that's why "they" - the big spending politicians in Catalonia want to FAKE everyone out and hide the truth....they are lining their pockets with money before letting the Spanish Constitution run its course. In the end, no referendum while the Indepent-loving politician of Catalonia steal money from the Catalonian people...

Bro in black acting like he’s being ruled under Stalin

This is funny. I live in Barcelona and the OVERWHELMING sentiment from Catalan's is SI for independence. I'm an outsider and I talk to both sides and it's remarkably. Spaniards living in Barcelona will call themselves both, it's almost trendy to do so, but Catalan's almost never do, though it's hard to discern that from this video. But this video has a obvious example. Take for example the girl in the grey shirt with the black hair. Seems like a nice person, nothing against anybody in this video, but She say she's both however when she talks about Catalan's it's always THEY. It's subtle but it's there. There are some really good reasons they want to break away and some fair reasons to stay, but the one pro-independence person is the most rigid and worst explained person in the video. No matter I hope everybody no matter which side is against the vicious police brutality and the violation of human rights that tok place last week.

Don't enough money back?????? Tell that to us people from Madrid or from communities like Cantabria ir Castilla y León! We are holding Spain more than Catalonia, and we don't mind!

Catalonians that don't feel as being Spaniards, should just leave. At the end of the day, Catalonia is in Spain, if they don't feel they belong there, they should migrate somewhere else.

Catalan population is deeply splitted, separatists claim only they represent people of Catalonia, but this is wrong. Silent non separatist majority (59%) went onto the street on 8. Octobre to protest against the separatist regional government (www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/08/catalan-leader-faces-dilemma-as-silent-majority-finds-its-voice ) NoEstaisSolos #YouAreNotAlone is the slogan of young Catalans who are going now on the streets to protest against the independence movement. They feel Catalan, Spaniard and European, have Spanish surnames, are proud to speak Spanish and Catalan, are proud of their origin. Most Catalans have Spanish surnames Gonzalez Garcia Martinez, just google IDESCAT which is the statistic authority in Catalonia (link www.idescat.cat/pub/?id=aec&n=948&lang=e ) , these Spanish surnames cannot be found in the nationalist separatist parties (about 45% of voters) but in the non-nationalist parties (around 55% of voters) . Furthermore most customers of Catalan banks and companies are in the other Spanish regions, much more than outside Spain in the EU . The biggest market for Catalan products are the other Spanish regions. After the civil war a lot of people from the southern regions of Spain Extremadura and Andalucia came to Catalonia to rebuilt the region, years before many of their people died when they defended Catalonia, part of the Spanish Republic, against the troops of General Franco. the Spanish company SEAT is the largest employer, Catalonia has the best universities and highest salaries in Spain (Catalonia 28.500 / Spain average 23.500) . Catalan bonds are rated BBB- , due to own mismanagement / corruption. Fast independence could hide this, local media is controlled with subventions by Catalan government, the local media doesn´t inform about local corruption. The illegal referendum held on 1rst October as well as an unofficial referendum 2014 (without any governmental interventions ) and the autonomic elections ins 2015 (declared by Catalan government as unofficial referendum) separatist parties just reached 39% of 5.5 million voters. According to surveys, carried out by CATALAN GOVERNMENT ITSELF, only 41% are in favour of independence (Source: elperiodico encuesta-independencia-cataluna-ceo-julio-2017-6181839) , Catalonia and the rest of Spain have a lot in common. The Castellers' human towers are from Valencia, the Mossos founded by Spanish king, dance Sardana was invented by a South Spaniard. The most spoken language in Catalonia is Spanish, in the rural areas people speak mostly Catalan but in the cities like Barcelona, Tarragona and so on people mostly speak Spanish. Now that companies are afraid of staying outside the EU because of the independence movement a lot of Catalan companies have changed their fiscal and social headquarter to other Spanish regions to avoid financial problems and not to lose their customers in that regions (40 Million inhabitants) where they have many more customers than in Catalonia (7.5 Million inhabitants) . Concerning police violence on 1rst October there have been many fake news, please take a look at the following newspaper www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/10/19/how-fake-news-helped-shape-the-catalonia-independence-vote/?.95560d1e9e41 www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2017/10/02/violences-policieres-en-catalogne-attention-aux-images-trompeuses_5194905_4355770.html www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/08/catalonia-demo-injuries-fact-checking

So sad...to divide a country like that. Look at past examples...it has not worked out well.

I don't think catalan should be allowed to separate from Spain

One Spain One United Kingdom

They also support Kurdish armed Kurdish militias to divide a historic country like Syria, supporting the peaceful Catalan people to move away from Spain

I like the way that the bbc is taking about the culture in catalonia but the make unfair argument for the welsh language

I’m Mexican of mostly Spanish decent. I don’t want to see my motherland fragmented.

I have to say that i dont know too much about Scotland, but i think it was an independent country before the United Kingdom started. Catalonia never was. Catalonia was part of a reign of Spain, the Aragon Kingdom and now is a region. There are 16 regions in Spain. Its just about money, as the wealthiest region in Spain they give more taxes to cover needs of the poorest regions of Spain. Madrid does the same. The las 30 years the goverment of Catalonia has just made laws in favour of nationalists. For example its not allowed to write the sign of a private commerce in Spanish. They obligate you to write it in Catalan. You just can write it in Spanish if you use the Catalan although there is a majority of catalans that use Spanish as their mother tongue. The catalonian elites have been 30 years despising Spanish identity. In public schools they teach at least a 75% of lessons in Catalan. To reach the 25% of Spanish language in subjects like Maths, History... the parents of a child must require that to school; usually the school denies and they have to ask for it to a judge. This problem implicate that nationalist will know who is the Spanish dissident family and will exclude them in social life. The problem is so deep that parents decides which birthdays parties will their children attend depending on if the child belongs to a Spanish family or not. Thats happening now in Catalonia. Families are divided because of it. Friends stopped being friends because of a nationalist identity. The vice president of Catalonia, Oriol Junqueras, said in 2008 that Catalans genes are different than Spanish. Talking about genes in XXI century. The think they are better just because big companies pay their taxes there.

Support to United Spain.

Cataluña is in Spain, Barcelona.

Catalan culture and identity are not in danger. The autonomous government has full powers to do so. The independence sentiment has been fed by the high bourgeoisie who want to have a public administration under control after they have run out of ideas of getting rich anyway. They prepared the advertising campaigns very well and made middle-class people believe that they would earn better salaries and less taxes, which is a utopia. I was an independentista until I saw all this clearly

cats and scots both have irrational superior feeling by there logic every small part of europe want to become separate country becoz everyone region is slightly different than other In india you will see this variation in every district from language to food , festival, cloth so if we start dividing like this we will create more than 100 countries in india. I think allowing economic freedom and there culture to grow is only way instead of forcing spanish culture on catalonian In india we becoz of this we have mix culture in our family which much better than monotonous culture

I don’t get why Spain entertains these people. You are Spaniard and that’s the point. Barcelona is part of Spain and Spain should not entertain them. It’s like saying Texas or New Mexico want to be independent. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

Go Spain get out the EU asap

Obviously Catalunya is not Spain's priority because Spain has way MUCH MORE REGIONS TO CARE ABOUT. I MEAN YOU CATALANS ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE IN .. ACTUALLY SPAIN

Catalonia has 0% chance To break away from Spain

Listen you can't ignore the Supreme Court just because you don't like it's ruling. They are acting like idiots I'm not saying this because my is from Madrid I think as an American is stupid to disrespect a Supreme Court ruling if it's unconstitutional is unconstitutional

I've been to Madrid, Sevilla and Barcelona I love you all. Your language, your culture, your movies, your music, your dance, your architecture, the ambiance in your cities and all n all. Love you all. Wish you all the best.

Celcastillo Romance of Latin Galo Occitan Romance Latin

The Rule of Law is defined as “Individuals, persons and government shall submit to, obey and be regulated by law, and not arbitrary action by an individual or group of individuals”In other words, nobody is above the law nor can anybody act outside the constraints established under the Rule of Law. Sorry Catalonia, it's unconstitutional.

I think Tabarnia should be free of Cataluña. They provide most of the income and have to support the unproductive (separatist) areas of Cataluña.😁

Kurdistan are with you

What we are living here in Catalonia is really unpleasent for everyone. The society is divided in two. You cannot talk about it without getting mad to someone anymore. You cannot hang or wear a spanish flag without being disturbed. It has created two extrems and two paralel societys. We hope it doesnt get violent and the local gobernment stops with all this path that took us no where and for no real reason.

I simply don't understand why they want it Spain is already extremely culturally diverse and you don't see the others wanting independence especially when Catalonia is not being oppressed It'd be like Connacht in Ireland wanting independence from the rest because we have different tradition and language to many in the east

British people supporting the idea of Catalan independance but when scotland wants independence they're all a sudden silence.

Cuando un maya dice que es mexicano eso no impide que lo haga en su lengua! Hablar maya no lo hace menos mexicano al contrario es parte de la identidad mexicana! Asi como el Tequila y el mariachi! No entiendo a los catalanes el hecho de hablarotro idioma y no sentirse españoles ..... En mi forma de ver cataluña es cataluña españa no importa si lo dices en catalán o en español..... Da igual.... No se si me explique... Saludos desde méxico.... Viva españa.

republique katalonia forom kosovo kosova

We are stand with Catalonia protesters! Free Catalonia!! Where are those western medias? Where is the White House? Catalonia is yelling help!! U.S.A should pass a “Catalonia human right and democracy act” right now

Els catalans som espanyols ❤️💛 Ara i sempre!

Catalonia is currently one of the most autonomous territories in the world. “With the regime of the autonomies and the organisation of power in Catalonia, you have possibilities of action that many regions, in other places in Europe envy.” (Jacques Delors, former President of the European Commission, in Barcelona, 1998) Catalonia and its high levels of self-government under the Constitution and the Statute of Autonomy. Catalonia has its own legislative and executive powers, exercised over a broad number of competences. The Catalan language and culture have never enjoyed such vitality, educational presence, demographic dimension, budgetary resources and political, institutional and legal backing as they are guaranteed thanks to the Constitution and the Statute of Autonomy. List of matters taken on by the Autonomous Community of Catalonia (This is the magnitude of Catalonia’s self-government pursuant to the 2006 Statute) : Education, youth, Catalan language, public safety, penitentiary system, private security, emergencies and civil defence, social security, social services, Transport and communications infrastructure, territorial and landscape planning, the shoreline and town planning, the organisation of the Administration of the Generalitat, territorial organisation, planning and promotion of economic activity, health, public health, pharmaceutical planning and pharmaceutical products, intellectual and industrial property, protection of personal data, volunteer movement, minors and family promotion, symbols of Catalonia, work and labour relations, tourism, universities, agriculture, livestock and forestry, water and hydraulic works, associations and foundations, hunting, fishing, maritime activities and fishery-sector planning, Savings Banks, trade and trade fairs, popular consultations, consumer affairs, co-operatives and the social economy, public bodies, publicly owned enterprises and qualified professions, credit, banking, insurance and mutual insurance companies that do not form part of the social security system, culture, geographic and quality denominations and indications, civil law, procedural law, energy and mines, sports and leisure, statistics, the public function and the personnel working for the Catalan public administrations, housing, immigration, industry, handicrafts, metrological control and contrast of metals, gambling and shows, environment, natural spaces and meteorology, stock exchange and securities markets, social communication media and audio-visual content services, notaries public and public registries, public works, gender policy, promotion and defence of competition, advertising, Technological research, development and innovation, legal regime, procedure, procurement, expropriation and liability in the Catalan public administrations, local regime, relations with religious entities, video surveillance and control of noise and recordings.

The amount of copium.

Viva Espana! Santiago!

I find the Catalonia thing a bit strange - it was never a country in itself, was it? It’s a region. It’s not like Scotland wanting to leave the UK as Scotland is already its own recognised country within a Union. This is a region within a country. Maybe they don’t want a royal family? I’d kind of understand that but it is a bit of a head scratcher.

No es que Cataluña sea diferente a España, es que toda España es diferente

The guy who is very itchy for independence is delusional. Catalonia couldn't survive fiscally and financially without the rest of Spain.

In Catalonia speak Valencian and its flag is the flag of Aragon. They have no flag or language of their own. Its leaders carry a debt of more than 70,000 million euros. They believe that forcing an independence will be the solution for not being accountable.

No more tiny little country.

Catalonia is Spain! Help Spain!

Barcelona appears full of Pakistanis, donerkebab, 24hr grovcery stores and Pakistani men everywhere. Not sure what kind of identity catalans are looking for.

It is very simple they cant do It beacuse It is illegal if you and your group of friends really want to steal a bank that doesnt allow you yo do it

not very informative...

Catalonia is a region from Spain, one of the most important democracies in the world. Catalonia has a very high level of autonomy, more than the German Ländern. The quality of life in Catalonia and in Spain is an excellent but some regional oligarchs, populists and nationalists are putting pressure to the local people to manage the region as they will, out from Spain and Europe, to transform Catalonia in a big Casino like an offshore financial paradise without control.

Well, most "catalans" who don't want the independence are descendents from spanish immigrants, so they speak spanish, consume spanish media, vote spanish political parties, feel related to the land of their parents and don't relate to the catalan identity. On the other side, most people who identify with the catalan culture (consume books in catalan, speak catalan at home, vote catalan political parties, etc) are for the independence.

That makes me laught because everyone in europe blame the french because we didnt let our regions keep their languagues and culture. But now that's what saved us from having an independantist movement in france like Catalogne or Scotland.

VIVA ESPAÑA 🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸 VIVA VOX

This is not the worst piece I have seen. It is pretty accurate since it doesnt address the real reasons of the separatist movement, only the beliefs that some people have. Separatism is not irrational, it is plain illegitimate since, after 5 centuries of unified history, Catalonia belongs to all spaniards and not only to the people who lives in that region.

we have the same problem in Turkiye between Turks and kurds. my ancestors fought for this land for years and they want to divide our country and establish their own country. there is not even racism towards them they have their language even there is a tv channel of our goverment which is only kurdish. also they have ninety percent of crime rates. but still we are not having any trouble w them by living in our country as a normal turkish citizen. but if they try to divide we all are enemies thats it. catalans are of latin origin, you cannot divide a country as you wish just because u are a minority. spanish people lets you live there you should be thankful and live in peace dont try to claim on peoples land you can only claim the right to live there, if you dont like that go to colombia back and try to defend your rights there lets see if mafia cares. even the idea of independence is beginning of terrorism also there are even cultural changes from region to region in most countries, including Turkey. be it food, music, accents or even local languages, there are people who came from different geographies and settled there from history to the present day. these are the things that add color to the country. how do you associate this with dividing the country?

Cataluña Will be very poor if they get the independence!

Freedom Catalonia

The independent not gonna happen.

Guy, that said he’s completely Catalan got best English prononciation among them.

Richest part of country, strong tradition, own language... reminds me of Slovenia in Yugoslavia 25 years ago.

Its a feeling feeling ...one feels Catalonia is not de priority of Spain, not is not, the priority os Spain should be the cititzens of Spain , incluiding the "special needs" of the catalans.

Spain is not part of Barcelona. Spain should be an independent country. Free Spain from Barcelona's rule. - Dave, Ukip Supporter, Cardiff

Catalan culture doesn´t really exist, mainly due to massive emigration from other regions of Spain along the years.

I don't want Catalonia Independence

So It's like Scotland and England

Castilleang

"I don't want independent, I just want vote" well said, the Spanish government should not take away people right to take part in a democracy.

I was born in Barcelona, I try not to focus on this too much about the independence movement. I noticed a lot of the younger people push for the movement. For me an independent Catalonia in my opinion might be risky with financial wise. I just don’t think we should separate from Spain just because of the language and culture, if that is the case look at India do the regions their separate all because people speak different languages there. No they don’t.

Support to the Catalan independence movement from Scotland!

Catalonia is literally geographically apart of the Iberian Peninsula which is now modern day Spain. This would be like if Nordyilland wanted independence from Denmark? Its already bad enough that Gibraltar is not apart of Spain, but if i was Spanish i would be infuriated that people are talking about independence that would only break up my country even more.

Visca Catalunya

I agree with your bid for independence! Love to all Catalans from the UK