MADRID: A long-running conflict between Madrid and Barcelona over Catalonia’s independence drive is annoying voters in the rest of Spain who feel their concerns are being neglected. The country’s 10 richest cities are found in Catalonia, the northern Basque country and the central Madrid region, according to figures from national statistics institute INE. But Catalans stress that they provide more money to the central government in Madrid than they receive back in investments. Among the worst-off regions is Extremadura in southwestern Spain, which has the country’s lowest per capita income. Polls show separatist parties and parties that want Catalonia to remain a part of Spain are virtually tied.

Source: Manila Times December 16, 2017 16:52 UTC