“I myself could have been from Madrid, or Catalan, or Basque. Photograph: Sergio Perez/ReutersThere are no Catalan flags, no posters for or against the referendum, no appeals to Catalans from their fellow citizens. There is certainly nothing like the unofficial “Let’s Stay Together” campaign launched ahead of Scotland’s independence referendum in 2014. “It’s very difficult for the rest of Spain to accept that the Catalans can decide alone about secession, and with good reason,” Molina said. “If we envisage what would happen in Spain if Catalonia becomes independent, it would be a real disaster.”

Source: The Guardian September 23, 2017 20:00 UTC