Introduction
The desire for independence has been a longstanding issue in Spain, particularly in regions like the Basque Country and Catalonia. This sentiment traces back to the 19th century and was further fueled during the Francisco Franco dictatorship from 1939 to 1975, a period marked by severe sanctions, including the prohibition of native languages.
Catalonia: The Quest for Autonomy
Catalonia, with its capital in Barcelona, is an autonomous community with legislative self-sufficiency and its own language, Catalan. This region has been at the forefront of the push for independence.
The Basque Country: Struggles for Unity
The Basque Country encompasses not only the autonomous community of the same name but also Navarra and three other provinces in France. The lack of territorial unity led to the emergence of the separatist group ETA («Euskadi Ta Askatasuna» or «Basque Country and Freedom») in 1959, which resorted to acts of violence.
ETA: From Violence to Politics
«After Franco’s death in 1975, ETA members transitioned into politics, renouncing their arms,» explains historian Julian Bilbao, who hails from the Basque region. However, the formal disarmament process was only announced in 2011. It wasn’t until May 2018 that ETA declared its definitive end, leaving a legacy of 853 casualties, 6,389 wounded, and 76 kidnapped over more than half a century.
Catalonia’s Troubled Plebiscite
In October 2017, Catalonia held a contentious plebiscite that strongly affirmed the desire for independence. Nevertheless, the Spanish constitution grants the government in Madrid veto power over such outcomes. Subsequently, the Catalan government faced a downfall, leaving the situation in a state of instability.
Other Separatist Movements in Spain
Galicia: Autonomy vs. Total Split
In Galicia, opinions vary from advocating for greater autonomy within Spain to pushing for complete independence. This autonomous region shares a border with Portugal, and some even propose its inclusion in the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries due to linguistic similarities.
Valencia: Pancatalanism vs. Valencianism
Valencia also shares the Catalan language, leading to debates between proponents of Pancatalanism, which seeks to unite Valencia with Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, and advocates of Valencianism, which calls for a wholly independent Valencian community.
Canary Islands: A Distant Affiliation
The lack of identification with Madrid fuels the separatist sentiment in the Canary Islands. The archipelago in the Atlantic is geographically closer to Morocco and North Africa than it is to mainland Spain, which significantly impacts its international relations.
Sources
Sources: Estadão, Exame, El País, History Channel, The New York Times