Catalonia now faces three potential ways to redefine its relationship with Spain, and to find a longterm solution to the conflict. Spanish political elites believe that support is temporary and volatile. But that’s unlikely after this week’s events, for two reasons: Catalan distrust and lack of Spanish political support for real decentralization. In 2005, 89 percent of Catalonia’s parliament voted for a decentralization proposal that enabled Catalonia to collect taxes directly, and recognized Catalonia as a nation. To avoid that result, discussion of realistic ways forward needs to start before it is too late.

Source: Washington Post October 28, 2017 13:40 UTC