Now Andalusia becomes a 'national reality' 02/11/2006 00:00

2 November 2006

MADRID — The Spanish parliament approved an autonomy deal for Andalucia which refers to the region as a 'national reality'.

Though not going as far as the autonomy deal reached with the north west region of Catalonia, the agreement does concede the region has some national identity.

The Andalusian statute was approved unanimously, except for the conservative opposition Popular Party, which opposes the move.

It will now be rubber-stamped by the higher house of the Spanish parliament.

It is also opposed by the Andalusian Party, which does not have any deputies in parliament, because it says the document does not go far enough in granting more autonomy to the region.

The party will present amendments.   

Other points in the autonomy deal include guaranteeing secular teaching in schools.

But it does not carry many of the financial measures which were included in the Catalan autonomy deal.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news