Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of the political situation provoked by the Catalan secessionist challenge, and tries to find an answer to the question of whether there exists a way out of the conflict which would fit in the Spanish constitution. After highlighting some paradoxes present in the secessionist process, focus is brought to a critical assessment of the policies and attitudes of the national government and of Catalan secessionists. The mistakes and misinterpretations which both sides committed are critically discussed, particularly regarding the democratic principle—which, according to both parties, is at the heart of their claims, and in any case is on their side. The core of the chapter is an analysis of a possible solution of the conflict, through a referendum (which according to most scholars would require first a constitutional amendment), through a federalist constitutional reform, or through the definition of Spain as a “nation of nations”.
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See “Statement on the events in Catalonia ”, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-17-3626_en.htm.
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See, for example, the hearings previous to the Act in the Legislative Committee of the House of Commons part of which are available at http://www.revparl.ca/23/2/23n2_00e_Dion.pdf.
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Beltrán de Felipe, M. (2019). Paradoxes, Mistakes, and Possible Steps Towards an Appeased Solution. In: Myths and Realities of Secessionisms. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11632-3_3
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