Artur Mas was suitably elated at the turnout, while Mariano Rajoy continues to denounce the “referendum” and its leaders.
Early Sunday morning in Barcelona is not a busy time. A few cafés are open, but streets have little traffic and few pedestrians are out. As I left the hotel and walked along Carrer d’Aragó this impression was confirmed: folks were still waking up.
Millions of Catalans voted yesterday (9 November) in a symbolic referendum on independence from Spain that supporters hope will propel the issue further despite opposition from Madrid.
About 1.6 million people in Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia voted Sunday in favor of breaking away from the country and carving out a new Mediterranean nation in a mock independence poll, but more Catalans stayed away either because of the poll’s questionable legality or their opposition to secession.
Hungary: ruling in the guise of democracy
open Democracy News Analysis – by Rudolf Ungváry
After 1989, within two decades, the hitherto ‘dormant’ authoritarian, leader-worshipping, order-obsessed right-wing mentality has gradually found its way to the surface. Its institutional shape is precisely impossible to define.
| Commission forecasts pain a less than optimistic picture for eurozone outlook Open Europe blog The European Commission has this morning released its Autumn 2014 Economic forecasts. While these forecasts can often be quite mundane owing to the very managed message they are trying to send, this set look to be a bit different (see here for our take onWinter 2014 and Autumn 2013). Maybe unsurprisingly the tone to more sceptical, critical and possibly realistic. Below outline some interesting themes. |
MAIN FOCUS: Row over freedom of movement in the EU | 04/11/2014
euro|topics
Germany indirectly warned the UK against taking measures to restrict the migration of low-skilled EU workers. Observers believe this confrontation could lead to Britain’s exit from the EU. Some commentators advise against sacrificing freedom of movement for the sake of keeping London in the EU. Others believe Merkel is too scared of a Brexit.
Balkan Nationalists Bring Back Personality Cults in Tattoos of Ruling Politicians
Global Voices Online by Danica Radisic
Tattoos of former political leaders have to become so popular in the Balkans in recent years that it has has launched these leaders into worship-level status.
If the G20 is serious about ‘sustainable and balanced growth’ as the ‘premier forum for international economic cooperation’, it needs to demonstrate its serious intent towards matters of gender equality at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brisbane this weekend.
Playing by the rules? Budgets and brinkmanship in the EU
open Democracy News Analysis – by Nicole Scicluna
The eurozone did not arrive at the brink of collapse for lack of rules. But – perhaps befitting a political project pursued by legal and economic means – the rules that established the currency union often bent to political will.
Sunday marks 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989.
Life after Europe: the Post-Europe Project
The joint editors of Europe – the very idea introduce the next stage of their project – a discussion inspired by the Czech philosopher and political dissident Jan Patočka. An invitation to discussion.
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