Catalonia: Key dates in fight for independence

Monday will mark one year since a banned independence referendum in Catalonia which was met with a massive police crackdown that captured the world’s attention and plunged Spain into its worst political crisis in decades.

The separatist drive has been years in the making. Here are the key dates in the push for independence in Spain’s wealthy northeastern region:

– Autonomy expanded, then reduced –

In March 2006 the Spanish parliament approves a new statute strengthening Catalonia’s autonomy by increasing its fiscal and judicial powers, also describing the region as a “nation”.

But in 2010, after an appeal from Spain’s conservative Popular Party (PP) — then in opposition, now in power — the Constitutional Court rules that the use of the word “nation” has “no legal value”.

It also rejects a reference to Catalan as the “preferred language”.

Hundreds of thousands of Catalans demonstrate.

– Separatists gain strength –

In September 2012, on Catalonia’s “national day”, more than one million people demonstrate in Barcelona to call for their region to become a new state. This comes in the context of a severe financial crisis affecting all of Spain.

Several days later then prime minister Mariano Rajoy, whose PP party has since come to power, refuses to negotiate greater budgetary autonomy with Catalan regional president Artur Mas.

In November 2014 Catalonia defies Madrid and presses ahead with a symbolic, non-binding referendum on independence. Turnout is just 37 percent, of which more than 80 percent vote in favour.

– Pro-independence majority –

In September 2015 pro-independence parties win an absolute majority in the regional assembly. In November all pro-independence lawmakers vote to start the process to secede, but the resolution is struck down by the Spanish Constitutional Court.

In January 2016 separatist Carles Puigdemont becomes the region’s president.

– Banned referendum –

Puigdemont announces in June a self-determination referendum for October but the Constitutional Court bans the vote.

As polling day approaches, Catalan officials are arrested, voting papers confiscated and large pro-independence demonstrations organised.

On the day of the referendum, October 1, security forces intervene, seizing ballot boxes in at least 100 polling stations. Images of police violence beam around the world.

Turnout is about 43 percent, of which 90 percent back independence, according to Catalan authorities.

Rajoy dismisses the referendum and King Felipe VI sternly denounces the independence bid, throwing his weight behind the national authorities’ efforts to “ensure constitutional order”.

– Independence declared –

Catalan lawmakers vote on October 27 to declare independence from Spain.

Madrid suspends the regional autonomy, ousts Puigdemont’s separatist executive, dissolves parliament and calls regional elections for the end of the year.

On December 21 — with three separatist candidates for election in prison and five others, including Puigdemont, in self-imposed exile in Belgium — pro-independence parties again win an absolute majority in the new regional elections.

Puigdemont can’t be sworn in as he is abroad, so Quim Torra becomes Catalonia’s new president, paving the way for the region’s autonomy to be restored.

Rajoy is ousted in a no confidence vote in parliament on June 1 and is replaced by Pedro Sanchez, a Socialist, who adopts a softer tone on Catalonia, easing tensions.

Roughly one million people march through the streets of Barcelona in support of independence on September 11, Catalonia’s “national day”, showing the independence camp still has the capacity to mobilise.