Fourth round of independence consultations
47 Catalan municipalities invited their citizens to take part in the popular referendums. More than 580,000 Catalans have taken part in these non-legally binding acts held for the first time last December
Politics
Politics news from Catalonia and Barcelona
United Nations conference in Barcelona to promote greater citizen participation and good governance
400 international experts in e-government will present the Declaration of Barcelona on Good Governance Practices and Transparency next Wednesday.
Catalonia?s autonomy may be significantly cut this week
Spanish Constitutional Court may finally decide this week on the Catalan Statute of Autonomy. More than three years after its approval via referendum, the Catalan supreme law may be cut by a court dominated by conservative and Spanish nationalist judges.
Montilla criticises the ?ashamed independence project? of the opposition party CiU
The President of the Catalan Government, José Montilla, accuses opposition leader Artur Mas of being a ?separatist ashamed to say so? and shows distrust of those who offer "magic recipes" to solve the economic crisis.
Leader of the Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Party ensures Spanish Labour Market Reform
Prime Minister Zapatero needs the votes from other parties to pass his Labour Market reform. Artur Mas, President of the Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Party (CiU) has affirmed today that his party will not block the reform in the Spanish Parliament. Ci
First major demonstration against labour reform measures set for June 30th
Catalan trade unions send out opening salvo in protest against government policy on run up to European general strike on September 29th
Labour market reform approved
The Spanish Government has finally issued today the highly expected reform of the labour market. Companies will be able to fire employees after paying 33 days of compensation, from which the State will pay 8.
General Strike on the 29th September
The two main trade unions have announced a general strike against the job market reform planned by the Spanish Government. This reform has been discussed among the trade unions, business associations and the Spanish Government for more than 2 years.
Montilla, President of Four Motors for Europe
Catalan Government President becomes president of the regional cooperation association. The Four Motors for Europe encloses four of the most dynamic regions of Europe: Lombardy, Baden-Württemberg, Rhône-Alpes, and Catalonia.
European Commission agrees to keep Catalan translator
The pressure of Catalan Euro MPs has worked out. The European Commission has changed its initial position to not renew its only Catalan translator. Commissioner Reding has personally engaged in finding a replacement.
EU and Spanish Government prioritise the Mediterranean railway connection
The high speed and capacity railway connection for freight and passengers connecting Spain with France will run along the Mediterranean shore. The option of going via Zaragoza through the middle of the Pyrenees clashes with the economic crisis.
Public administration goes on strike
Government and unions clash over success of strike action. Official figures suggest 11% of participation while unions raise the figure up to 75%. The salary cuts within the public sector adopted by the Spanish Government have infuriated the unions.
President Montilla warns of danger of brush fires this summer
In a day focused on environmental acts, Catalan President asked forest defence associations to be on their guard this summer. Montilla also inaugurated a cycling park that links four important towns in Baix Llobregat, next to Barcelona.
Xavier Trias to run for Mayor of Barcelona in 2011
The Centre-Right Catalan Nationalist Party (CiU) trusts its same candidate to run for Mayor of Barcelona in the elections scheduled for the spring of 2011. Recent polls confirm Xavier Trias? hopes to win in his third attempt.
Catalan Parliament to declare the Spanish Constitutional Court incompetent
Parliament President considers waiting time on Catalan Statute for Autonomy to be unbearable
Latest updates and breaking news on politics and political affairs from Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and Europe. Keep up to date with the territorial crisis and Catalonia’s independence push, stories from the Catalan government and parliament, latest developments in the Spanish government, and the decisions in Europe that affect our shores too.