Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


              Catalonia Voting for Possible Separation From Spain

   by VOA News

   Catalonia is voting Sunday in a poll that could determine whether the
   region breaks away from Spain.

   Separatist parties are expected to win the majority of seats in the
   parliamentary elections, according to public opinion polls.

   Separatist leaders have vowed, if their parties are victorious, they
   will place Catalonia and its main city of Barcelona on the road to
   independence from Spain and make Catalonia a new nation by 2017.

   The region of 7.5 million people formally declared itself a nation in
   2006, but the Constitutional Court later overruled that declaration.

   Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Spain's constitution prevents
   autonomous regions like Catalonia from declaring independence.

   Catalonia, one of Spain's wealthiest regions, has its own language and
   distinct culture, and has long fought for greater autonomy.

   Some material for this report came from AP, AFP and Reuters.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/catalonia-voting-for-possible-separat
   ion-from-spain/2981015.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/catalonia-voting-for-possible-separation-from-spain/2981015.html