On Oct. 1, the people of Catalonia will have the chance to decide whether they wish to become citizens of a new European state. Spain’s responses to the referendum campaign have shown that its judiciary and police apparatus are still directly controlled by the government and bend to its will if needed. Helping to organize a symbolic independence referendum in 2014 in which 2.3 million Catalans took part. The European Union and the world cannot ignore these failures of the rule of law in Spain. The Catalan referendum offers an opportunity for Europe to make clear to the world that, in the 21st century, votes are more important than old borders created through wars or royal marriages.

Source: Washington Post June 13, 2017 03:56 UTC