Leaders | Centrifugal Spain

Umbrage in Catalonia

Even though the spectre of secession is an unwelcome distraction, Spain still needs to change

GEORGE ORWELL, a British writer, fought in the trenches in the Spanish civil war to defend Catalonia from General Franco. He would surely be saddened by what is going on in that beautiful, cultured corner of Spain. On November 25th Catalans will vote in a regional election called as an unofficial referendum on independence. Since Catalonia represents a big chunk of the euro zone’s fourth-largest economy, and since Spain is in the front-line of efforts to save the euro, the vote and its aftermath will be felt farther afield.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline "Umbrage in Catalonia"

Old battles, new Middle East

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