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HARDtalk Raul Romeva

HARDtalk Raul Romeva

The Interview vor 11 Jahren

Stephen Sackur talks to Spanish politician Raul Romeva who wants an independent Catalonia

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HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur speaks to a man who is currently
involved in an election campaign which promises to have a
profound impact on the future of Spain and significant
reverberations around the whole of Europe. Raul Romeva is a
champion of independence for Catalonia – he leads a coalition of
pro-secession parties who are attempting to turn regional
elections in late September into a de facto referendum on
breaking away from the rest of Spain. It’s a cause which has
united pro-independence forces on the right, the left and in
Romeva’s case the Green wing of Catalan politics. He says that a
resounding vote for Yes in this regional poll will put Catalonia
on a path to independence within 18 months; but that may well be
wishful thinking. The Madrid Governemnt is adamant that any moves
toward secession will be unconstitutional. Spain faces a
prolonged period of bitter argument. And even if the
secessionists in Catalonioa got their way what kind of future
would their land of 7.5 million have? Would it be allowed into
the EU? Would the prosperous local economy thrive or collapse?
These are issues which mirror the arguments heard during the
Scottish referendum on independence. In an age of great
uncertainty for all Europeans the Scots backed away from going it
alone – will Catalans ultimately do the same?