Catalan premier Mas signs decree calling November independence referéndum

http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/09/27/inenglish/1411807855_655737.html

Canvassing can start tomorrow.

Remember to let everyone know that they may well have the right to vote now.

Well, it's not as easy for foreigners as it should be..

The Catalans obviously don't want foreigners to vote so it appears they are making it as difficult as posible.

To vote you previously need to register your intention to vote.

You need to provide:

1. ID (Passport/NIE)
   
2. Document from the Ajuntament confirming you have been registered (empadronado) for the required time (one year for EU residents, three years for non-EU residents)
   
3. Request to vote - document can be downloaded here:
   http://www20.gencat.cat/docs/consulta/Documents/Arxius/VR1.pdf
   

This must all be presented to the 'comissió de seguiment' in your area and the time limit is between 1st and 8th October!

As of this moment I have no idea where this is for us in this area but I will post more as soon as I find out.

http://www.9nconsulta2014.cat/qui-te-dret-votar.html
http://www.9nconsulta2014.cat/regles-especifiques.html#bloc3

Nigel wrote on Sep 27^th, 2014 at 10:02pm:

Well, it's not as easy for foreigners as it should be.. The Catalans obviously don't want foreigners to vote so it appears they are making it as difficult as posible. To vote you previously need to register your intention to vote. You need to provide: ID (Passport/NIE) Document from the Ajuntament confirming you have been registered (empadronado) for the required time (one year for EU residents, three years for non-EU residents) Request to vote - document can be downloaded here: http://www20.gencat.cat/docs/consulta/Documents/Arxius/VR1.pdf This must all be presented to the 'comissió de seguiment' in your area and the time limit is between 1st and 8th October! As of this moment I have no idea where this is for us in this area but I will post more as soon as I find out. http://www.9nconsulta2014.cat/qui-te-dret-votar.html http://www.9nconsulta2014.cat/regles-especifiques.html#bloc3

I wonder how long various Ajuntaments will take in supplying this document?  Could be the fly in the ointment.    :-/

Ok, an update..
the document from the Ajuntament normally takes a week to issue - obviously no use to anyone.  They can issue a document called a 'Volant historic de l'habitant' which, in the case of Roquetes, they will not charge for.

The 'comissió de seguiment' for all of the Terresdel Ebre (Baix Ebre, Montsia and Terra Alta) is in Tortosa. It is the Delegación de Govern in Carrer de Montcada 23 which is near the Library, open from 9am to 2pm.

I have been told that Madrid has made it illegal for any activity connected with the Consulta on the 9th November to take place. Therefore, I am informed, if anyone approaches their local council for the documents enabling them to vote, they will be unable to assist you. 

Yes Janwes,
You are on the right track. Spain's constitutional court have just suspended the November 9 referendum.Officially the Catalan government have stopped there referendum campaign for fear of prosecution,but still intends to launch an appeal.

I was at the door of the  Delegación de Govern at 9:10 this morning and have successfully registered my intention to vote.

All paperwork done, stamped and signed. 

I was the first one to do this and they were a bit unsure of the procedure or whether I could register as a result of everything being on hold but in the end they accepted my paperwork.

wrote on Oct 1^st, 2014 at 12:22pm:

Yes Janwes, You are on the right track. Spain's constitutional court have just suspended the November 9 referendum.Officially the Catalan government have stopped there referendum campaign for fear of prosecution,but still intends to launch an appeal.

Technically speaking, the referendum has been halted whilst the Constitutional Court investigates the Spanish Government's complaint. It hasn't decided anything yet as the court case hasn't begun and therefore there is nothing to appeal against.

So far, the whole show is following the due judicial process despite what the catalan media may say.

The Catalan government have resumed campaigning for the vote on 9th November.

http://ccaa.elpais.com/ccaa/2014/10/04/catalunya/1412425911_817023.html

A great view of the 'Consulta' published in El País.. :-?

Let's see if I understand. We have to vote on 9 -N a few confusing questions that no one understands , without any information, in an illegal query that does not have any international support , with a cost of " only " nine million euros and driven by a party with headquarters seized by corruption and alleged founder, for now, for tax evasion . Am I wrong ?

http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/09/30/opinion/1412097815_099501.html

I moved here with a vow to myself that I would not follow any politics.
Whilst living in the uk, I was always on about politics, generally moaning about all the different parties.
Here I love it, because I don't know anything about any of them 😇😇😇😇 and what's more I don't want to know 😴😴😴😴😴
Ahh inner peace

Nigel wrote on Oct 4^th, 2014 at 9:26pm:

A great view of the 'Consulta' published in El País.. :-? Let's see if I understand. We have to vote on 9 -N a few confusing questions that no one understands , without any information, in an illegal query that does not have any international support , with a cost of " only " nine million euros and driven by a party with headquarters seized by corruption and alleged founder, for now, for tax evasion . Am I wrong ? http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/09/30/opinion/1412097815_099501.html

That's pretty much sums it up. Not only did the founder of CIU, Pujol, alledgedly impose a 3-5% kickback policy on public contracts but a certain Artur Mas was in charge of the public works department from 1995 to 1997. Apparently he knew nothing of this practice...

cactus jack wrote on Oct 4^th, 2014 at 10:54pm:

I moved here with a vow to myself that I would not follow any politics. Whilst living in the uk, I was always on about politics, generally moaning about all the different parties. Here I love it, because I don't know anything about any of them 😇😇😇😇 and what's more I don't want to know 😴😴😴😴😴 Ahh inner peace

Good approach for most of the time Senior Cactus, can be practised quite easily by purchasing a bucket,adding to said bucket an appropriate quantity of sand & then placing one`s head in said bucket!   :D

wrote on Oct 5^th, 2014 at 12:03pm:

cactus jack wrote on Oct 4th, 2014 at 10:54pm: I moved here with a vow to myself that I would not follow any politics. Whilst living in the uk, I was always on about politics, generally moaning about all the different parties. Here I love it, because I don't know anything about any of them 😇😇😇😇 and what's more I don't want to know 😴😴😴😴😴 Ahh inner peace Good approach for most of the time Senior Cactus, can be practised quite easily by purchasing a bucket,adding to said bucket an appropriate quantity of sand & then placing one`s head in said bucket!   :D

It took me years to learn not to get stressed about stuff that I cannot do anything about.
So if it takes a bucket of sand, then so be it.
As we all know a huge majority of politicians are only in politics because a real job would kill them.
And they do the stuff required to get them another term in office, otherwise there is no job for them after their next election. If that means lying every time they open their mouths, it shall be done!
Of course everything you read in the papers, see on TV, or read on the internet is the absolute truth, and with no bias at all😙😙😙😙😙
I'm off to play happily

---

Best advice is never to vote for any politician it only encourages them.

Quite an interesting article on the possible economic consequences of an independent Catalonia (Cataluña or Catalunya)

http://wolfstreet.com/2014/10/03/catalonias-choice-chaotic-divorce-or-loveless-marriage/

and the following summary from an article in El Pais this morning
"A week rarely goes by these days without an investment bank publishing a report on the consequences and associated risks of an independent Catalonia. In fact, ratings agency Fitch has just warned that Catalan public debt would be reclassified with a junk rating in the case of a breakaway."

Fills you full of confidence, doesn't it.

Other than the obvious financial issues, I wonder what impact a yes vote would have on non-resident property owners...

I have just phoned 012 to get information about voting on the 9th
I was told the following: Residents oc Catelonia can vote as long as they have a DNI and a passport to show their age( you have to be 16 orover) Go to your normal voting building(in ampolla theschool) they will have the voting form for you to fill out.If in doubt phone 012 they speak perfect castellano.I hope that this will make a lot of people go to give their vote

Interesting times ahead...

The Yes/Yes campaign has won over 80% of the vote.
What now.. Elections and more voting I guess but maybe in the next vote foreigners will be excluded as will under 18's.

Did you vote? I did..

Yes - I did!!!!  The thing that got me was the atmosphere in and around the place for voting - a mixture of excitement and friendship and determination - quite something!!  For good reports in Englush on what was happening I keyed in Catalonia into Google, and came up with the BBC reports, which were both up to date and interesting to read.

I've been very disappointed to see all the news outlets reporting this 80% figure which is meaningless without the rest of the facts. The campaign is reporting 2 million people turned out to vote out of a voter base of 5.3 million. That's less than 50% turnout.
And 80% percent of those who turned out voted yes to independence.
Now as this vote has no legal validity whatsoever I'm willing to bet that the vast majority of no voters didn't bother voting but the vast majority of the pro independencers will have, making this result even more meaningless.
Also I wouldn't bet on the generalitat making it easy for all the foreigners voting in a referendum as the majority of them will not be pro.
Bruixot

wrote on Nov 10^th, 2014 at 4:08pm:

I've been very disappointed to see all the news outlets reporting this 80% figure which is meaningless without the rest of the facts. The campaign is reporting 2 million people turned out to vote out of a voter base of 5.3 million. That's less than 50% turnout. And 80% percent of those who turned out voted yes to independence. Now as this vote has no legal validity whatsoever I'm willing to bet that the vast majority of no voters didn't bother voting but the vast majority of the pro independencers will have, making this result even more meaningless. Also I wouldn't bet on the generalitat making it easy for all the foreigners voting in a referendum as the majority of them will not be pro. Bruixot

Need we say more   "What a waste of money!

wrote on Nov 10^th, 2014 at 7:10pm:

wrote on Nov 10th, 2014 at 4:08pm: I've been very disappointed to see all the news outlets reporting this 80% figure which is meaningless without the rest of the facts. The campaign is reporting 2 million people turned out to vote out of a voter base of 5.3 million. That's less than 50% turnout. And 80% percent of those who turned out voted yes to independence. Now as this vote has no legal validity whatsoever I'm willing to bet that the vast majority of no voters didn't bother voting but the vast majority of the pro independencers will have, making this result even more meaningless. Also I wouldn't bet on the generalitat making it easy for all the foreigners voting in a referendum as the majority of them will not be pro. Bruixot Need we say more   "What a waste of money!

No foreigner (US - not the Spanish Catalans) in the right mind would vote yes without absolute guarantees that we won't be evicted if they win. If they go for independence and lose EU status they absolutely could do that if they wanted. They could of course go back to pre- EC days (as opposed to EU) and say we all need visas to travel to and through Catalonia, work permits to work, and permits to stay (issued by Catalonia (not Spain as they are at the moment)).

That's how it used to be in many (now EU)  countries pre EC days for Brits wishing to even travel to France/Spain/etc., never mind live there. There would be absolutely nothing stopping them from imposing rules such as that - but we all knew that before selling everything and moving here didn't we!

John.

If you read the start of the topic you will see that the reply I got from the Esquerra party said that if Catalunya became independent then all the residents would gain Catalan nationality. So I think we would all be safe from the dreaded visa saga.

Who knows what will happen though.. only time will tell.

Nigel wrote on Nov 11^th, 2014 at 5:54pm:

If you read the start of the topic you will see that the reply I got from the Esquerra party said that if Catalunya became independent then all the residents would gain Catalan nationality. So I think we would all be safe from the dreaded visa saga. Who knows what will happen though.. only time will tell.

I can find no such reference. The files in some of the links you provided have also been removed already and no cached version on google that I can find. Can you please repost the reply you mention.

Thanks Nigel,
John.

Sorry, it was in my other post here:
http://www.tortosaforum.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1410808774

An interesting point in the response you received. Can you please add the actual document as a j.pg or a file? There are some very pertinant points here (especialy regarding citizenship) on page 47 http://www.eui.eu/Projects/EUDO/Documents/2014/RSCAS201490.pdf from the European Law Acadamy.

We may have the right to vote in an independance referendum - that does not mean we will get citizenship/nationality if independance is declared. In fact, This European Law organisation advises against it

john

Sadly the whole so called democratic process here is no better than it is in the UK.  A lot of feathering of own nests goes on.