This is what I think about the Process of Independence of Catalonia from Spain.

1)

I dont agree with the separatist process of Catalonia from Spain.

2) I think most of the premises (historic and economic) that support the process are wrong or false. Maybe some of them are partially true today or were true in the past. But, we have to evaluate the situation as it is today not as it was in 13th or in 18th century or in 1936. However, it is a waste of time and money to argue every single day about this so, 3) I think we need a third independent party to verify all the economic and historic and information provided by the Catalan and the Spanish government. Ideally, this third party should be proposed by the EU and no Spanish or Catalans citizens should be part of it. This will allow us to make an informed judgment about the separatist premises. 4) Spanish Constitution does not allow this process and this is wrong. An agreement should be reached in Spanish Congress to modify the Constitution and allow Spanish citizen to approve or not the change in the Constitution. 5) In parallel, with constitutional change, an agreement about the referendum has to be discussed between Spanish and Catalan governments. EU should also be part of this discussion. Also, new e-vote tools have to be set up by both governments to allow citizens an active participation in the process. 6) a. b. Things that need to be discussed and agreed: Text of the proposed question in the referendum % of turnout for the voting to be considered valid (Ideally above 75%)

c. % of YES votes necessary to be considered valid (Personally, I would say something around 70%). We are talking about breaking out a country here, not about choosing the winner of American Idol or Eurovision song contest. A process like that has to be supported by an overwhelming majority (a 51-49 does not sound right at all). d. If the result is YES, status of citizens that do not support the process has be to clarified such as: guarantee dual citizenship Spain-Catalonia or a permanent resident status in Catalonia for Spanish citizenships living in Catalonia (like a green card). To respect historical situations, Spanish citizenships that live in Catalonia that wont accept Catalonian citizenship will still have the right to vote in all catalan elections and referendums. e. All possible situations have to be discussed before voting, such as: status of citizens married with a spanish non-catalan citizen, status of their children and so

on. Discussions and agreements about these citizenship status have to be open and public. f. Also, social security and health coverage situation status has to be discussed for every single possible scenario among citizens. Discussions and agreements have to be open and public. g. If the result is YES, Spain and the EU have to recognize the independence of Catalonia. EU membership has to be also discussed previously and citizens informed about it. Economic agreement has to be reached between Spain and Catalonia about the status of the economic situation between them after independence day. h. If the result is YES, Catalan and Spanish should be co-official languages in the new independent state to respect the right of the new minority. Public schools will teach the same hours of both Catalan and Spanish i. If the result is NO, this process should be stopped and a new political process of discussion about the relationship Catalonia-Spain will need to take place. 7) Every citizen (above 18-years old) has the right to decide if he wants Catalonia to be independent or not from Spain. 8) Every citizen (above 18-years old) will be able to vote, no matter if he lives in Catalonia, Spain or in a foreign country. An e-vote protocol has to be set up. 9) All talks, discussions and agreements have to be public and all documents available on-line inmediately after they take place. 10) Citizens will have the right to modify or block the process anytime through some sort of moratorium or impeachment process through an e-vote protocol. Agreement on numbers and conditions on this process has to be discussed 11) Final decision is the one that comes from a legal, internationally supported, referendum not from the Parliament of Catalonia or the Congress of Spain. These two actors have to guarantee to process but not impose any solution. This thing is bigger than political parties and their own interests.

If all these things are done I think we will have a clear, democratic and free separatist process. If not, we will have an imposed, not democratic situation without respect for citizens. My initial thought about the vote is NO but if new information is revealed or economic provided by the government of Catalonia is confirmed by a third independent party or new situations develop I might consider a change in my vote. After this post, I wont say anything else about this until election day or until a final decision about the referendum has been reached between Spain and Catalonia.

More information: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/01/23/world/europe/spain-catalan-selfdetermination/index.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/spains-catalonia-parliamentpasses-symbolic-declaration-of-sovereignty-referendumexpected/2013/01/23/99145762-6586-11e2-889b-f23c246aa446_story.html http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/01/23/spain-catalonia-parliament-passessymbolic-declaration-sovereignty-referendum/