Catalan National Assembly
A writer and publisher, Liz Castro is a member of Catalan National Assembly. She is the author of Many Grains of Sand: A sourcebook of ideas for changing the world, tried and tested in Catalonia.
PROFILE
Liz Castro
Guest
FROM Liz Castro
To the Point
Can the nations of Europe keep it together? First, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. Now, leaders of Catalonia, the richest province in Spain, want to declare independence. On Sunday, they went ahead with a referendum that had been ruled illegal. Tuesday, separatists took to the streets of Barcelona, Catalonia's capital city. That night, King Felipe VI took a tough stand in a rare TV appearance, instead of appealing for national unity. But today, separatist leaders said they'll obey yet another court order -- their regional parliament won't declare independence on Monday. The national government's brutal attacks on voters may have increased momentum. But Spain's not the only country where growing local resentment of distant central governments is stoking forms of separatism. Leaders of the European Union have been silent so far, but they may be facing threats to unity — as well as democracy.
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