Date:19/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/19/stories/2006061901861500.htm

International

Catalans likely to endorse autonomy

Giles Tremlett

Madrid: Catalans were expected to deliver a massive yes vote to their new autonomy charter at a referendum on Sunday, despite claims from conservative Opposition groups that it represents a first step in the disintegration of Spain.

The Government's own poll last week predicted 75 per cent of voters would say yes to a charter that defines Catalonia's position within Spain for the next few decades.

The charter is a watered-down version of the one approved last year by 90 per cent of the regional Catalan Parliament. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialists changed a text that originally gave Catalonia recognition as ``a nation''.

A new duty to know how to speak the Catalan language has proved one of the most controversial parts of a detailed charter, which with 227 clauses, is 25 per cent longer than Spain's own constitution.

Spain is divided into 17 regions, each with varying degrees of self-government. A Catalan yes vote was expected to start a rush by other regions to revise their charters as well. In every case they were expected to demand extra powers, draining Madrid's control over public spending.

A revision of the charter for the Basque country, which is immersed in a peace process to end four decades of terrorism by armed separatist group ETA, was expected to be the thorniest of them all.

A resounding yes vote was, however, expected to give Mr. Zapatero greater confidence in his dealings with ETA — which are also being criticised by the conservative People's party Opposition.

Mr. Zapatero said earlier this week that he hoped to open direct talks with ETA this summer. —