While prospects for Catalan independence remain bleak, Spain’s territorial crisis is here to stay

Spain will hold a new general election on 26 June 2016, following the failure to form a government after the previous election in December 2015. Anwen Elias assesses how the issue of Catalan independence has played out against the backdrop of the country’s political deadlock. She writes that the independence process risks being derailed by internal divisions within the Catalan government and a lack of public support for secession, but that demands for self-government across Spain are unlikely to disappear regardless of the result in June.

• Primary Source

ESO: Key Source: Spanish general election, 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/spanish-general-election-2016/

ESO: Background information: Catalan leader rules out independence during mandate http://www.europeansources.info/record/catalan-leader-rules-out-independence-during-mandate/

Catalan News Agency, 27.05.16: Puigdemont asks Spanish politicians for 'courage' to 'negotiate a referendum' http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/puigdemont-asks-spanish-politicians-for-courage-to-negotiate-a-referendum

Catalan News Agency, 30.05.16: Junqueras hopeful despite CUP budget veto http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/junqueras-hopeful-despite-cup-budget-veto

Catalan News Agency: Tag: Catalan independence http://www.catalannewsagency.com/tag/Catalan%20Independence

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