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Why does Catalonia want to secede from Spain?

The Spanish government is presently in the process of removing Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont from his post as president of the regional government in Catalonia. This follows the October 1 independence referendum held by Puigdemont, in which the region voted for independence in the face of opposition from the Spanish government. How did the crisis come about? We attempt to trace the history, trigger events and key players. 
The Spanish government is presently in the process of removing Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont from his post as president of the regional government in Catalonia. This follows the October 1 independence referendum held by Puigdemont, in which the region
The Spanish government is presently in the process of removing Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont from his post as president of the regional government in Catalonia. This follows the October 1 independence referendum held by Puigdemont, in which the region
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A brief history of nationalism in Catalonia: Catalonia has a long history of trying to break away from Spain. Catalonia was formed during War of the Spanish Succession (1701 – 1714), the region has its own language, laws, and customs, due to which it has regularly tussled over autonomy with the central government in Madrid. For hundreds of years, many Spanish leaders tried to outlaw the Catalan language and play down other aspects of the region’s culture. (Photo | AP)
A brief history of nationalism in Catalonia: Catalonia has a long history of trying to break away from Spain. Catalonia was formed during War of the Spanish Succession (1701 – 1714), the region has its own language, laws, and customs, due to which it has regularly tussled over autonomy with the central government in Madrid. For hundreds of years, many Spanish leaders tried to outlaw the Catalan language and play down other aspects of the region’s culture. (Photo | AP)
That trigger for the current independence movement: The catalan independence movement took shape in response to a 2010 ruling Spain's Constitutional Court that was a legal setback for Catalonia references to ‘Catalonia as a nation.’ The ruling sparked a backlash, some one million Catalans marched in anger and soon after pro-independence parties won the regional election. And Catalan has over the decades reasserted itself as the the language of politics and public life in the region. This along with unemployment and economic inequalities, which the Catalan government accuses the Spanish government in Madrid of causing, triggered the current independence movement. (Photo | AP)
That trigger for the current independence movement: The catalan independence movement took shape in response to a 2010 ruling Spain's Constitutional Court that was a legal setback for Catalonia references to ‘Catalonia as a nation.’ The ruling sparked a backlash, some one million Catalans marched in anger and soon after pro-independence parties won the regional election. And Catalan has over the decades reasserted itself as the the language of politics and public life in the region. This along with unemployment and economic inequalities, which the Catalan government accuses the Spanish government in Madrid of causing, triggered the current independence movement. (Photo | AP)
How the Spanish government dealt the crisis: Much before the arrests of Catalan government officials in September and the widely criticized the violence against voters on October 1, the Catalan parliament called for a plan for independence, and a year later passed the resolution for independence referendum. Through all of these Spanish government kept announcing that there would be no referendum. Even after October 1, the Spanish government declared the referendum illegal and undemocratic despite garnering 80 percent of votes in favour of independence. (Photo | AP)
How the Spanish government dealt the crisis: Much before the arrests of Catalan government officials in September and the widely criticized the violence against voters on October 1, the Catalan parliament called for a plan for independence, and a year later passed the resolution for independence referendum. Through all of these Spanish government kept announcing that there would be no referendum. Even after October 1, the Spanish government declared the referendum illegal and undemocratic despite garnering 80 percent of votes in favour of independence. (Photo | AP)
What happened on October 1?: Spanish riot police smash their way into polling stations in Catalonia and fire rubber bullets to try to halt the disputed independence referendum, and hundreds of people, including some police, are injured, officials say. The police dragged the voters and protesters by their hair and ears, beating them to the ground with their truncheons and then continuing to beat them after they’d fallen. (Photo | AFP)
What happened on October 1?: Spanish riot police smash their way into polling stations in Catalonia and fire rubber bullets to try to halt the disputed independence referendum, and hundreds of people, including some police, are injured, officials say. The police dragged the voters and protesters by their hair and ears, beating them to the ground with their truncheons and then continuing to beat them after they’d fallen. (Photo | AFP)
Key player in Catalonia crises: Mariano Rajoy, 62-year-old leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP) has served as Spain's prime minister since December 2011. With a reputation as a political survivor, Rajoy is known for his strategy of playing for time to wear down his foes. He began a second term last November. The premier's detractors accuse him of failing to stop separatist sentiment from surging in Catalonia. Some say he even encouraged it after his party successfully pushed for the partial annulment of a 2006 statute of Catalan autonomy. Many Catalans viewed the episode as a humiliation. Rajoy argues he could not give his approval for a Catalan independence referendum because it violates Spain's constitution, which declares the country indivisible. (Photo | AP)
Key player in Catalonia crises: Mariano Rajoy, 62-year-old leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP) has served as Spain's prime minister since December 2011. With a reputation as a political survivor, Rajoy is known for his strategy of playing for time to wear down his foes. He began a second term last November. The premier's detractors accuse him of failing to stop separatist sentiment from surging in Catalonia. Some say he even encouraged it after his party successfully pushed for the partial annulment of a 2006 statute of Catalan autonomy. Many Catalans viewed the episode as a humiliation. Rajoy argues he could not give his approval for a Catalan independence referendum because it violates Spain's constitution, which declares the country indivisible. (Photo | AP)
Key player in Catalonia crises: Carles Puigdemont, 54-year-old conservative president of Catalonia, a former journalist, has advocated for independence since his youth. The former mayor of Girona became head of the regional government in January 2016. Puigdemont is under pressure from hardcore separatists to declare independence in defiance of the central government. The separatist leadership says voters who took part in a banned secession referendum on October 1 overwhelmingly backed breaking away from Spain. He also warned in a letter to the Senate that the crisis will escalate if Madrid takes over Catalonia's powers. Puigdemont has said he is willing to go to jail over his separatist drive. (Photo | AP)
Key player in Catalonia crises: Carles Puigdemont, 54-year-old conservative president of Catalonia, a former journalist, has advocated for independence since his youth. The former mayor of Girona became head of the regional government in January 2016. Puigdemont is under pressure from hardcore separatists to declare independence in defiance of the central government. The separatist leadership says voters who took part in a banned secession referendum on October 1 overwhelmingly backed breaking away from Spain. He also warned in a letter to the Senate that the crisis will escalate if Madrid takes over Catalonia's powers. Puigdemont has said he is willing to go to jail over his separatist drive. (Photo | AP)
Why Spanish government does not want to give independence to Catalonia?: The region is a crucial part of the Spanish economy. Its 7.5 million residents represent 16% of Spain’s population, but the region accounts for 19% of Spain’s GDP. Catalonia’s economy benefits from industries, from manufacturing to construction and agriculture. If Catalonia left Spain, there would be a big economic hole, for both countries. Firstly, Catalonia installing a new border and new laws would impact jobs and business immediately. Furthermore, it wouldn’t be part of the EU anymore, so trade with other EU members could not carry on as usual. Catalonia accounts for over 25% of Spain’s exports. (Photo | AP)
Why Spanish government does not want to give independence to Catalonia?: The region is a crucial part of the Spanish economy. Its 7.5 million residents represent 16% of Spain’s population, but the region accounts for 19% of Spain’s GDP. Catalonia’s economy benefits from industries, from manufacturing to construction and agriculture. If Catalonia left Spain, there would be a big economic hole, for both countries. Firstly, Catalonia installing a new border and new laws would impact jobs and business immediately. Furthermore, it wouldn’t be part of the EU anymore, so trade with other EU members could not carry on as usual. Catalonia accounts for over 25% of Spain’s exports. (Photo | AP)
Spain
Mariano Rajoy
Catalonia
Carles Puigdemont

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