https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed As tens of thousands turn out to march for independence, Catalan historian and separatist campaigner Simon Harris argues that the desire for self-government goes back centuries. https://www.thelocal.es/20160911/an-historical-look-at-the-catalan-independence-issue Sun, 11 Sep 2016 13:40:50 +0200 an-historical-look-at-the-catalan-independence-issue OPINION: The Local speaks to Liz Castro, a member of the Catalan National Assembly board, which organizes the mass march for independence on La Diada. https://www.thelocal.es/20160910/diada-why-are-catalans-marching-independence-from-spain Sat, 10 Sep 2016 13:39:31 +0200 diada-why-are-catalans-marching-independence-from-spain The Catalan regional assembly opened a new session on Monday dominated for the first time by a secessionist majority that has vowed to break away from Spain within 18 months. https://www.thelocal.es/20151027/catalan-parliament-opens-with-pro-independence-majority Tue, 27 Oct 2015 09:53:07 +0100 catalan-parliament-opens-with-pro-independence-majority Catalonia's president Artur Mas on Wednesday accused the Spanish government of suing him because its "pride was hurt" by his bids to let his region vote on independence from Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20150930/mas Wed, 30 Sep 2015 14:34:39 +0200 mas The separatist victory in Catalonia was watched keenly in Scotland and Flemish speaking Belgium but met with concern in neighbouring France. https://www.thelocal.es/20150929/scots-congratulate-catalan-separatists-on-election-result Tue, 29 Sep 2015 10:49:37 +0200 scots-congratulate-catalan-separatists-on-election-result Catalonia's leader Artur Mas admits that he was not always a nationalist. But now he is pledging his political life to the cause of making his region independent from Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20150928/artur-mas-last-regional-president-or-future-head-of-independent-state Mon, 28 Sep 2015 16:03:59 +0200 artur-mas-last-regional-president-or-future-head-of-independent-state The election billed as a de facto referendum on independence for Catalonia has produced some interesting results. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.es/20150928/catalan-elections-what-we-know Mon, 28 Sep 2015 13:36:40 +0200 catalan-elections-what-we-know A bitter victory for the separatists or a resounding 'No' to independence? The Local takes a look at how the Spanish newspapers saw the election results. https://www.thelocal.es/20150928/catalan-elections-newspaper-r Mon, 28 Sep 2015 12:13:14 +0200 catalan-elections-newspaper-r Catalan separatists dealt a bitter blow to Spain's government by winning control of their regional parliament, sparking uncertainty and political manoeuvring on Monday, three months ahead of a general election. https://www.thelocal.es/20150928/catalan-vote-pressures-spain-ahead-of-general-election Mon, 28 Sep 2015 10:47:51 +0200 catalan-vote-pressures-spain-ahead-of-general-election Polls opened on Sunday in a regional election in Catalonia seen as the most important in Spain's recent history, with separatists tipped to win. https://www.thelocal.es/20150927/catalans-go-the-polls-in Sun, 27 Sep 2015 13:10:10 +0200 catalans-go-the-polls-in The Catalan language is a key marker of identity in a region where the debate on independence is raging. Irene Boada, a lecturer in Spanish and Catalan, at Queen's University Belfast, explores its troubled history. https://www.thelocal.es/20150926/the-rebirth-of-catalan-how-a-once-banned-language-is-thriving Sat, 26 Sep 2015 19:08:15 +0200 the-rebirth-of-catalan-how-a-once-banned-language-is-thriving Catalonia goes to the polls on Sunday September 27th in what has been billed a "plebiscitary election" to determine whether the northeastern region should breakaway from Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20150925/q-a-everything-you-need-to-know-about-catalan-refu Fri, 25 Sep 2015 18:53:40 +0200 q-a-everything-you-need-to-know-about-catalan-refu The issue of whether the northeastern region should breakaway from Spain is provoking fierce debate and creating tensions even among families ahead of the regional election on Sunday. https://www.thelocal.es/20150925/catalan-families-split-by-independence-debate Fri, 25 Sep 2015 11:15:47 +0200 catalan-families-split-by-independence-debate A childish spat broke out on the balcony of Barcelona City Hall on Thursday as politicians from the left and the right competed to unfurl their flags. https://www.thelocal.es/20150924/flag-wars-barcelona-city-hall Thu, 24 Sep 2015 17:52:01 +0200 flag-wars-barcelona-city-hall Catalonia's leader Artur Mas says the region will not need a referendum to break away from Spain if pro-separatist candidates win a majority of votes in Sunday's regional election. https://www.thelocal.es/20150923/vote-win-would-mean-independence-declaration-catalan-leader Wed, 23 Sep 2015 13:52:21 +0200 vote-win-would-mean-independence-declaration-catalan-leader Spanish leaders raised pressure on Catalonia over its independence drive warning that it would put pensions and bank deposits at risk, as insults and threats heated up campaigning for the region's crucial election. https://www.thelocal.es/20150923/threats-and-insults-fly-as-catalan-breakaway-vote-nears Wed, 23 Sep 2015 10:59:58 +0200 threats-and-insults-fly-as-catalan-breakaway-vote-nears From London to Washington via Brussels, a diplomatic battle is rumbling as Spain's northeastern Catalonia region vies to win international backing for its contested drive for independence from Madrid. https://www.thelocal.es/20150922/catalonia-and-madrid-wage-diplomatic-battle-on-independence Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:03:27 +0200 catalonia-and-madrid-wage-diplomatic-battle-on-independence The EU on Thursday warned that a Catalonia vote for independence from Spain would mean it would automatically exit from the bloc and would have to apply for re-admission. https://www.thelocal.es/20150917/independence-for-catalonia-means-leaving-bloc-warns-eu Thu, 17 Sep 2015 18:35:25 +0200 independence-for-catalonia-means-leaving-bloc-warns-eu The US President made reference to Spain's political struggles at a meeting with King Felipe VI at the White House on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.es/20150916/obama-backs-unified-spain-amid-catalan-self-rule-bid Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:51:17 +0200 obama-backs-unified-spain-amid-catalan-self-rule-bid Hundreds of thousands crowded into Barcelona to mark 'La Diada', just weeks before the region goes to the polls in what has been billed as a de facto vote on independence. https://www.thelocal.es/20150911/live-la-diada-catalonias-national-day Fri, 11 Sep 2015 11:17:27 +0200 live-la-diada-catalonias-national-day