BARCELONA: On October 1, 2017, Catalan separatists held an illegal and divisive referendum which saw them launching a failed attempt to break away from Spain. A year on, however, the independence movement is divided and rudderless. For Ramoneda, it was a historic moment for the independence movement but also demonstrated its weaknesses. Puigdemont and other Catalan leaders fled to Belgium and those who remained in Spain were jailed days later, accused of rebellion. But ERC and some from PDeCAT, Puigdemont’s former party, advocate moderation and say the independence movement doesn’t have enough support to continue on the path of unilateralism.

Source: Manila Times September 30, 2018 16:41 UTC