Editing Catalonia (section)

== Politics ==
{{Politics of Catalonia}}
{{Main|Politics of Catalonia|Politics of Spain|Catalan independence}}
[[File:Lluís Companys i Jover.jpg|upright=0.65|thumb|left|[[Lluís Companys]], second president of the Generalitat of Catalonia between 1933 and 1940, executed by Franco's regime]]

After Franco's death in 1975 and the adoption of a democratic constitution in Spain in 1978, Catalonia recovered and extended the powers that it had gained in the [[Statute of Autonomy]] of 1932<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/guia/antecedents/antecedents15.htm|title=Beginnings of the autonomous regime, 1918–1932 |publisher=Gencat.net|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113202504/http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/guia/antecedents/antecedents15.htm|archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref> but lost with the fall of the [[Second Spanish Republic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/guia/antecedents/antecedents16.htm|title=The republican Government of Catalonia, 1931–1939 |publisher=Gencat.net|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113202509/http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/guia/antecedents/antecedents16.htm|archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref> at the end of the [[Spanish Civil War]] in 1939.

This autonomous community has gradually achieved more [[Self-governance|autonomy]] since the approval of the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]]. The Generalitat holds exclusive jurisdiction in education, health, culture, environment, communications, transportation, commerce, public safety and local government, and only shares jurisdiction with the Spanish government in justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencat.cat/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_4.htm|title=Title IV. Powers (articles 110–173) of the 2006 Statute |publisher=Gencat.cat|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303223008/http://www.gencat.cat/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_4.htm|archive-date=3 March 2010}}</ref> In all, some analysts argue that formally the current system grants Catalonia with "more self-government than almost any other corner in Europe".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economist.com/news/leaders/21567088-even-though-spectre-secession-unwelcome-distraction-spain-still-needs|title=Centrifugal Spain: Umbrage in Catalonia|newspaper=The Economist|date=24 November 2012|access-date=13 September 2013|archive-date=25 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925172404/http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21567088-even-though-spectre-secession-unwelcome-distraction-spain-still-needs|url-status=live}}</ref>

The support for Catalan nationalism ranges from a demand for further autonomy and the [[federalisation]] of Spain to the desire for independence from the rest of Spain, expressed by Catalan independentists.<ref name="CEO poll">{{cite web|url=http://premsa.gencat.cat/pres_fsvp/docs/2012/06/27/10/36/60220d32-3dde-4bbe-bd32-e66085959a29.pdf|title=CEO Public Opinion Poll covering, among others, nationalist opinions|publisher=ceo.gencat.cat|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913102322/http://premsa.gencat.cat/pres_fsvp/docs/2012/06/27/10/36/60220d32-3dde-4bbe-bd32-e66085959a29.pdf|archive-date=13 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first survey following the Constitutional Court ruling that cut back elements of the 2006 Statute of Autonomy, published by ''[[La Vanguardia]]'' on 18{{nbsp}}July{{nbsp}}2010, found that 46% of the voters would support independence in a referendum.<ref name="La Vanguardia poll">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lavanguardia.es/politica/noticias/20100718/53967434806/el-fallo-del-tc-catapulta-el-respaldo-a-la-independencia-que-roza-el-50.html|title=La Vanguardia poll|access-date=20 July 2010|archive-date=21 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721040410/http://www.lavanguardia.es/politica/noticias/20100718/53967434806/el-fallo-del-tc-catapulta-el-respaldo-a-la-independencia-que-roza-el-50.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In February of the same year, a poll by the [[Open University of Catalonia]] gave more or less the same results.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uoc.edu/portal/_resources/CA/documents/sala_premsa/noticies/Dossier_premsa_Diagnxstic_Catalunya-_Espanya.pdf|title=Diagnóstic de Percepcions Catalunya – Espanya|publisher=Universitat Oberta de Catalunya|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004201004/http://www.uoc.edu/portal/_resources/CA/documents/sala_premsa/noticies/Dossier_premsa_Diagnxstic_Catalunya-_Espanya.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Other polls have shown lower support for independence, ranging from 40 to 49%.<ref name="Cadenaser.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.cadenaser.com/espana/articulo/42-catalanes-dice-quiere-cataluna-sea-independiente/csrcsrpor/20101115csrcsrnac_3/Tes|title=El 42% de los catalanes dice que quiere que Cataluña sea independiente|date=15 November 2010|publisher=Cadenaser.com|access-date=31 January 2014|archive-date=29 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429162514/http://www.cadenaser.com/espana/articulo/42-catalanes-dice-quiere-cataluna-sea-independiente/csrcsrpor/20101115csrcsrnac_3/Tes|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto">[http://www.racalacarta.com/audio/audio_rac1/Racometre28setembre.pdf Racalacarta.com]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118151355/http://www.racalacarta.com/audio/audio_rac1/Racometre28setembre.pdf|date=18 January 2012}}</ref><ref name="Lavanguardia.es">{{cite web|url=http://www.lavanguardia.es/politica/noticias/20100907/53996153467/el-apoyo-a-la-independencia-remite-y-cae-al-40-tribunal-constitucional-partido-popular-instituto-nox.html|title=El apoyo a la independencia remite y cae al 40%|publisher=Lavanguardia.es|access-date=31 January 2014|archive-date=10 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100910084250/http://www.lavanguardia.es/politica/noticias/20100907/53996153467/el-apoyo-a-la-independencia-remite-y-cae-al-40-tribunal-constitucional-partido-popular-instituto-nox.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although it is established in the whole of the territory, support for independence is significantly higher in the hinterland and the northeast, away from the more populous coastal areas such as Barcelona.<ref name="eldiario.es">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/mapa-distribuye-voto-independentista-catalunya_1_2460004.html|title=MAPA &#124; ¿Cómo se distribuye el voto independentista en Catalunya?|first=Belén Picazo, David Ruiz|last=López|date=28 September 2015|website=ElDiario.es|access-date=24 July 2021|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724170437/https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/mapa-distribuye-voto-independentista-catalunya_1_2460004.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2011 when the question started to be regularly surveyed by the governmental Center for Public Opinion Studies (CEO), support for Catalan independence has been on the rise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.einesceo.cat/evolutius/referendum-per-la-independencia-de-catalunya-/39|title=Referèndum per la independència de Catalunya – Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió|publisher=Einesceo.cat|access-date=15 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014181236/http://www.einesceo.cat/evolutius/referendum-per-la-independencia-de-catalunya-/39|archive-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> According to the CEO opinion poll from July{{nbsp}}2016, 47.7% of Catalans would vote for independence and 42.4% against it while, about the question of preferences, according to the CEO opinion poll from March 2016, a 57.2 claim to be "absolutely" or "fairly" in favour of independence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://premsa.gencat.cat/pres_fsvp/docs/2016/07/22/11/04/749debaa-7941-47fa-861a-e4f4cebe1233.pdf|title=Baròmetre d'Opinió|publisher=Center for Public Opinion Studies|access-date=9 September 2016|language=ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911191341/http://premsa.gencat.cat/pres_fsvp/docs/2016/07/22/11/04/749debaa-7941-47fa-861a-e4f4cebe1233.pdf|archive-date=11 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ceo.gencat.cat/ceop/AppJava/pages/estudis/categories/fitxaEstudi.html?colId=3;5728&lastTitle=Bar%F2metre+d%27Opini%F3+Pol%EDtica%3BBar%F2metre+d%27Opini%F3+Pol%EDtica.+1a+onada+2016|title=Baròmetre d'Opinió|publisher=Center for Public Opinion Studies|access-date=15 April 2016|language=ca}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Other polls have shown lower support for independence, ranging from 40 to 49%.<ref name="Cadenaser.com"/><ref name="auto"/><ref name="Lavanguardia.es"/> Other polls show more variable results, according with the Spanish CIS, as of December{{nbsp}}2016, 47% of Catalans rejected independence and 45% supported it.<ref name="antena3.com">{{cite web|title=El "no" a la independencia gana más apoyos, según el CIS catalán|url=https://www.antena3.com/noticias/espana/el-cis_20161229586516fb0cf2187c0d319a7d.html|website=Antena 3 Noticias|language=es|date=12 November 2017|access-date=20 October 2019|archive-date=20 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020174708/https://www.antena3.com/noticias/espana/el-cis_20161229586516fb0cf2187c0d319a7d.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In hundreds of non-binding local referendums on independence, organised across Catalonia from 13{{nbsp}}September{{nbsp}}2009, a large majority voted for independence, although critics argued that the polls were mostly held in pro-independence areas. In December{{nbsp}}2009, 94% of those voting backed independence from Spain, on a turn-out of 25%.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8410730.stm|title=Spain's Catalonia region in symbolic independence vote|work=BBC News|date=14 December 2009|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-date=31 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031062306/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8410730.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The final local referendum was held in Barcelona, in April{{nbsp}}2011. On 11{{nbsp}}September{{nbsp}}2012, a pro-independence march pulled in a crowd of between 600,000 (according to the [[Spanish Government]]), 1.5{{spaces}}million (according to the [[Guàrdia Urbana de Barcelona]]), and 2{{spaces}}million (according to its promoters);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20120914/54349577571/manifestacion-independentista-600-000-personas.html|title="Unas 600.000 personas en la manifestación independentista". La Vanguardia de Catalunya|publisher=Lavanguardia.com|date=14 September 2012|access-date=1 February 2014|archive-date=29 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429163448/http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20120914/54349577571/manifestacion-independentista-600-000-personas.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pi|first=Jaume|title=Masiva manifestación por la independencia de Catalunya|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20120911/54349943522/diada-manifestacion-independencia-catalunya.html|access-date=15 October 2013|newspaper=[[La Vanguardia]]|date=11 September 2012|language=es|archive-date=17 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017082445/http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20120911/54349943522/diada-manifestacion-independencia-catalunya.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> whereas poll results revealed that half the population of Catalonia supported secession from Spain.

{{multiple image
| align = right
| header = Prominent Catalan politicians in [[Spain]].
| header_align=center
| image1 = Prim madrazo.jpeg
| width1 = 150
| alt1 =
| caption1 = [[Juan Prim, 1st Marquis of los Castillejos|Juan Prim]] ([[Prime minister of Spain|Spanish prime minister]] under regent [[Francisco Serrano, 1st Duke of la Torre|don Francisco Serrano]])
| image2 = Estanislao Figueras y Moragas.jpg
| width2 = 140
| alt2 =
| caption2 = [[Estanislao Figueras]] (president of the [[First Spanish Republic]])
| image3 = Pi y margall.jpg
| width3 = 159
| alt3 =
| caption3 = [[Francesc Pi i Margall]]{{br}}(president of the [[First Spanish Republic]])
}}

Two major factors were [[Constitutional Court of Spain|Spain's Constitutional Court's]] 2010 decision to declare part of the 2006 Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia unconstitutional, as well as the fact that Catalonia contributes 19.49% of the central government's tax revenue, but only receives 14.03% of central government's spending.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Abend|first=Lisa|title=Spain Barcelona Warns Madrid: Pay Up, or Catalonia Leaves Spain|url=https://world.time.com/2012/09/11/barcelona-warns-madrid-pay-up-or-catalonia-leaves-spain/?xid=newsletter-weekly|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=17 September 2012|date=11 September 2012|archive-date=20 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920215317/http://world.time.com/2012/09/11/barcelona-warns-madrid-pay-up-or-catalonia-leaves-spain/?xid=newsletter-weekly|url-status=live}}</ref>

Parties that consider themselves either Catalan nationalist or [[Catalan independence|independentist]] have been present in all Catalan governments since 1980. The largest Catalan nationalist party, [[Convergence and Union]], ruled Catalonia from 1980 to 2003, and returned to power in the [[2010 Catalan regional election|2010 election]]. Between 2003 and 2010, a leftist coalition, composed by the [[Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya|Catalan Socialists' Party]], the pro-independence [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] and the leftist-environmentalist [[Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds|Initiative for Catalonia-Greens]], implemented policies that widened Catalan autonomy.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

In the [[2012 Catalonian parliamentary election|25 November 2012 Catalan parliamentary election]], sovereigntist parties supporting a secession referendum gathered 59.01% of the votes and held 87 of the 135{{nbsp}}seats in the Catalan Parliament. Parties supporting independence from the rest of Spain obtained 49.12% of the votes and a majority of 74{{nbsp}}seats.

[[Artur Mas]], then the president of Catalonia, organised early elections that took place on 27{{nbsp}}September{{nbsp}}2015. In these elections, Convergència and Esquerra Republicana decided to join, and they presented themselves under the coalition named [[Junts pel Sí]] (in [[Catalan language|Catalan]], Together for Yes). Junts pel Sí won 62{{nbsp}}seats and was the most voted party, and CUP ([[Candidatura d'Unitat Popular]], a far-left and independentist party) won another 10, so the sum of all the independentist forces/parties was 72{{nbsp}}seats, reaching an absolute majority, but not in number of individual votes, comprising 47,74% of the total.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://resultats.parlament2015.cat/09AU/DAU09999CM_L4.htm|title=Resultats provisionals 27S|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|website=gencat.cat|publisher=Generalitat de Catalunya|access-date=29 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930003326/http://resultats.parlament2015.cat/09AU/DAU09999CM_L4.htm|archive-date=30 September 2015}}</ref>

=== Statute of Autonomy ===
{{Main|Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia}}
{{See also|Autonomous communities of Spain|Nationalities and regions of Spain}}
[[File:Estatuto de Nuria.jpg|thumb|upright|The first [[Statute of Catalonia]], 1932]]
The [[Statute of Autonomy]] of Catalonia is the fundamental organic law, second only to the Spanish Constitution from which the Statute originates.

In the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]] Catalonia, along with the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] and [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], was defined as a "[[nationalities and regions of Spain|nationality]]".{{dubious|date=November 2021}} The same constitution gave Catalonia the automatic right to autonomy, which resulted in the [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 1979]].{{explain|date=November 2021}}

Both the 1979 Statute of Autonomy and the current one, approved in 2006, state that "Catalonia, as a nationality, exercises its self-government constituted as an Autonomous Community in accordance with the Constitution and with the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, which is its basic institutional law, always under the law in Spain".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_preliminar.htm#a1|title=First article of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalunya|publisher=Gencat.net|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113100832/http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_preliminar.htm#a1|archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref>

The Preamble of the 2006 Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia states that the [[Parliament of Catalonia]] has defined Catalonia as a [[nation]], but that "the Spanish Constitution recognizes Catalonia's national reality as a nationality".<ref>[http://www.constitucion.es/constitucion/castellano/titulo_preliminar.html Constitución Española, Titulo Preliminar]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013022212/http://www.constitucion.es/constitucion/castellano/titulo_preliminar.html|date=13 October 2007}}</ref> While the Statute was approved by and sanctioned by both the Catalan and Spanish parliaments, and later by referendum in Catalonia, it has been subject to a legal challenge by the surrounding autonomous communities of [[Aragon]], [[Balearic Islands]] and [[Valencian Community|Valencia]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Europa Press/Madrid|url=http://www.hoy.es/prensa/20061115/nacional/admitidos-recursos-aragon-valencia_20061115.html|title=Admitidos los recursos de Aragón, Valencia y Baleares contra el Estatuto catalán.|publisher=Hoy.es|date=1 December 1997|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-date=4 August 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804013947/http://www.hoy.es/prensa/20061115/nacional/admitidos-recursos-aragon-valencia_20061115.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> as well as by the conservative [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]]. The objections are based on various issues such as disputed [[cultural heritage]] but, especially, on the Statute's alleged breaches of the principle of "solidarity between regions" in fiscal and educational matters enshrined by the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978|Constitution]].<ref>{{cite news|author=El País|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/anos/encarnizada/batalla/politica/elpepuesp/20100416elpepunac_26/Tes|title=Cuatro años de encarnizada batalla política.|newspaper=El País|date=29 June 2010|access-date=29 June 2010|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703023004/https://elpais.com/elpais/2010/04/16/actualidad/1271405842_850215.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Spain's [[Constitutional Court of Spain|Constitutional Court]] assessed the disputed articles and on 28 June 2010, issued its judgment on the principal allegation of unconstitutionality presented by the People's Party in 2006. The judgment granted clear passage to 182 articles of the 223 that make up the fundamental text. The court approved 73 of the 114 articles that the People's Party had contested, while declaring 14 articles unconstitutional in whole or in part and imposing a restrictive interpretation on 27 others.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/retoque/74/articulos/recurridos/elpepunac/20100629elpepinac_4/Tes|title=Ni un retoque en 74 artículos recurridos|newspaper=El País|access-date=29 June 2010|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703023004/https://elpais.com/diario/2010/06/29/espana/1277762404_850215.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The court accepted the specific provision that described Catalonia as a "nation", however ruled that it was a historical and cultural term with no legal weight, and that Spain remained the only nation recognised by the constitution.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/news/Catalonia-39is-not-a-nation39.6412380.jp|title=Catalonia 'is not a nation' 10 July 2010 |publisher=News.scotsman.com|date=10 July 2010|access-date=6 January 2011|location=Edinburgh|archive-date=29 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629141155/http://news.scotsman.com/news/Catalonia-39is-not-a-nation39.6412380.jp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.matthewbennett.es/60/is-catalonia-a-nation-or-a-nationality-or-is-spain-the-only-nation-in-spain/|title=Is Catalonia a nation or a nationality, or is Spain the only nation in Spain?|publisher=Matthewbennett.es|access-date=6 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908023751/http://www.matthewbennett.es/60/is-catalonia-a-nation-or-a-nationality-or-is-spain-the-only-nation-in-spain/|archive-date=8 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Fiona Govan|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/7861118/Catalonia-can-call-itself-a-nation-rules-Spains-top-court.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/7861118/Catalonia-can-call-itself-a-nation-rules-Spains-top-court.html|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=Catalonia can call itself a 'nation', rules Spain's top court 29 Jun 2010 |work=Telegraph|date=29 June 2010|access-date=6 January 2011|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/16490065|title=A nationality, not a nation Jul 1st 2010 |newspaper=The Economist|date=1 July 2010|access-date=6 January 2011|archive-date=25 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225082016/http://www.economist.com/node/16490065|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Government and law ===
{{Main|Generalitat of Catalonia}}
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Parliament of Catalunya edited.JPG
| caption1 = [[Palace of the Parliament of Catalonia]], located in [[Ciutadella park]], Barcelona
| image2 = Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya 1.jpg
| caption2 = [[Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya]], Barcelona, headquarters of the President and the Government of Catalonia
}}
The Catalan Statute of Autonomy establishes that Catalonia, as an autonomous community, is organised politically through the [[Generalitat of Catalonia]] (Catalan: {{lang|ca|Generalitat de Catalunya}}), confirmed by the [[Parliament of Catalonia|Parliament]], the Presidency of the Generalitat, the [[Government of Catalonia|Government]] or Executive Council and the other institutions established by the Parliament, among them the Ombudsman ({{lang|ca|[[Síndic de Greuges (Catalonia)|Síndic de Greuges]]}}), the Office of Auditors ({{lang|ca|Sindicatura de Comptes}}) the Council for Statutory Guarantees ({{lang|ca|Consell de Garanties Estatutàries}}) or the Audiovisual Council of Catalonia ({{lang|ca|Consell de l'Audiovisual de Catalunya}}).
[[File:Salvador Illa 2024 (cropped).jpg|upright=0.65|thumb|left|[[Salvador Illa]], [[President of the Government of Catalonia|President of the Generalitat of Catalonia]] (2024–)]]

The [[Parliament of Catalonia]] (Catalan: {{lang|ca|Parlament de Catalunya}}) is the unicameral legislative body of the Generalitat and represents the people of Catalonia. Its 135{{nbsp}}members (''diputats'') are elected by [[universal suffrage]] to serve for a four-year period. According to the Statute of Autonomy, it has powers to legislate over devolved matters such as education, health, culture, internal institutional and territorial organization, nomination of the President of the Generalitat and control the Government, budget and other affairs. The last Catalan election [[2024 Catalan regional election|was held on 12 May 2024]], and its current speaker (president) is [[Josep Rull]], incumbent since 10{{nbsp}}June{{nbsp}}2024.

The [[President of the Generalitat of Catalonia]] (Catalan: {{lang|ca|president de la Generalitat de Catalunya}}) is the highest representative of Catalonia, and is also responsible of leading the government's action, presiding the Executive Council. Since the restoration of the Generalitat on the return of democracy in Spain, the [[List of Presidents of the Generalitat de Catalunya|Presidents of Catalonia]] have been [[Josep Tarradellas]] (1977–1980, president in exile since 1954), [[Jordi Pujol]] (1980–2003), [[Pasqual Maragall]] (2003–2006), [[José Montilla]] (2006–2010), [[Artur Mas]] (2010–2016), [[Carles Puigdemont]] (2016–2017) and, after the imposition of direct rule from Madrid, [[Quim Torra]] (2018–2020), [[Pere Aragonès]] (2021–2024) and Salvador Illa (2024–).

The [[Executive Council of Catalonia|Executive Council]] (Catalan: {{lang|ca|Consell Executiu}}) or Government ({{lang|ca|Govern}}), is the body responsible of the government of the Generalitat, it holds executive and regulatory power, being accountable to the Catalan Parliament. It comprises the President of the Generalitat, the [[List of First Ministers of Catalonia|First Minister]] ({{lang|ca|conseller primer}}) or the [[List of Vice Presidents of Catalonia|Vice President]], and the ministers ({{lang|ca|consellers}}) appointed by the president. Its seat is the [[Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya|Palau de la Generalitat]], Barcelona. In 2021 the government was a coalition of two parties, the [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] (ERC) and [[Together for Catalonia (2020)|Together for Catalonia]] (Junts) and is made up of 14 ministers, including the vice President, alongside to the president and a secretary of government, but in October{{nbsp}}2022 Together for Catalonia (Junts) left the coalition and the government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Catalan government broken: Junts leaves coalition cabinet, Esquerra stays alone|url=https://english.vilaweb.cat/noticies/catalan-government-broken-junts-leaves-coalition-cabinet-esquerra-stays-alone/|access-date=2022-10-28|website=VilaWeb|language=ca|archive-date=28 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028034515/https://english.vilaweb.cat/noticies/catalan-government-broken-junts-leaves-coalition-cabinet-esquerra-stays-alone/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Security forces and Justice ===
{{Main|Mossos d'Esquadra}}
Catalonia has its own police force, the {{lang|ca|[[Mossos d'Esquadra]]}} (officially called {{lang|ca|Mossos d'Esquadra-Policia de la Generalitat de Catalunya}}), whose origins date back to the 18th{{nbsp}}century. Since 1980 they have been under the command of the Generalitat, and since 1994 they have expanded in number in order to replace the national [[Civil Guard (Spain)|Civil Guard]] and [[National Police Corps]], which report directly to the Homeland Department of Spain. The national bodies retain personnel within Catalonia to exercise functions of national scope such as overseeing ports, airports, coasts, international borders, custom offices, the identification of documents and arms control, immigration control, terrorism prevention, arms trafficking prevention, amongst others.

Most of the justice system is administered by national judicial institutions, the highest body and last judicial instance in the Catalan jurisdiction, integrating the Spanish judiciary, is the [[High Court of Justice of Catalonia]]. The [[criminal justice]] system is uniform throughout Spain, while [[civil law (legal system)|civil law]] is administered separately within Catalonia. The civil laws that are subject to autonomous legislation have been codified in the [[Civil Code of Catalonia]] ({{lang|ca|Codi civil de Catalunya}}) since 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://civil.udg.es/normacivil/catalunya.htm|title=Legislació civil catalana|publisher=Civil.udg.es|date=20 July 2006|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706215412/http://civil.udg.es/normacivil/catalunya.htm|archive-date=6 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Catalonia, together with [[Navarre]] and the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]], are the Spanish communities with the highest degree of autonomy in terms of [[law enforcement agency|law enforcement]].

=== Administrative divisions ===
[[File:CatMCVPtoponims.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|Provinces, regions and counties of Catalonia (until 2015)]]{{Main|Subdivisions of Catalonia}}
{{See also|Political divisions of Spain|Local government in Spain}}
Catalonia is organised territorially into [[Provinces of Spain|provinces]] or [[Vegueries of Catalonia|regions]], further subdivided into [[comarca|comarques]] and [[municipality|municipalities]]. The [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006|2006{{nbsp}}Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia]] establishes the administrative organisation of the later three.

==== Provinces ====
{{Further|Provinces of Spain}}
Much like the rest of Spain, Catalonia is divided administratively into four provinces, the governing body of which is the [[Provincial deputation (Spain)|Provincial Deputation]] ({{langx|ca|Diputació Provincial|links=no}}, {{langx|oc|Deputacion Provinciau|links=no}}, {{langx|es|Diputación Provincial|links=no}}). As of 2010, the four provinces and their populations were:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idescat.cat/territ/BasicTerr?TC=5&V0=5&V1=08&V3=863&V4=435&ALLINFO=TRUE&PARENT=1&GERMANS=TRUE&CTX=B|title=Padró municipal d'habitants. Xifres Oficials. Recomptes. Any 2010 |publisher=idescat|access-date=20 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113212952/http://www.idescat.cat/territ/BasicTerr?TC=5&V0=5&V1=08&V3=863&V4=435&ALLINFO=TRUE&PARENT=1&GERMANS=TRUE&CTX=B|archive-date=13 November 2009}}</ref>

*[[Province of Barcelona]]: 5,701,708 population
*[[Province of Girona]]: 777,258 population
*[[Province of Lleida]]: 437,939 population
*[[Province of Tarragona]]: 830,804 population
Unlike vegueries, provinces do not follow the limitations of the subdivisional counties, notably [[Cerdanya (comarca)|Baixa Cerdanya]], which is split in half between the demarcations of Lleida and Girona. This situation has led some isolated municipalities to request province changes from the Spanish government.<ref>{{Cite web|last=324cat|date=2023-11-28|title=El cas singular de Gósol, que vol deixar de dependre de quatre administracions: "Cal un debat"|url=https://www.ccma.cat/324/el-cas-singular-de-gosol-que-vol-deixar-de-dependre-de-quatre-administracions-cal-un-debat/noticia/3263567/|access-date=2024-02-04|website=CCMA|language=ca|archive-date=4 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204193735/https://www.ccma.cat/324/el-cas-singular-de-gosol-que-vol-deixar-de-dependre-de-quatre-administracions-cal-un-debat/noticia/3263567/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Vegueries ====
{{Main|Vegueries of Catalonia}}

Besides provinces, Catalonia is internally divided into eight regions or vegueries, based on the feudal administrative territorial jurisdiction of the [[Principality of Catalonia]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=vegueria {{!}} enciclopedia.cat|url=https://www.enciclopedia.cat/gran-enciclopedia-catalana/vegueria-1|access-date=2024-02-04|website=www.enciclopedia.cat|archive-date=30 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102826/https://www.enciclopedia.cat/gran-enciclopedia-catalana/vegueria-1|url-status=live}}</ref> Established in 2006, vegueries are used by the [[Generalitat de Catalunya]] with the aim to more effectively divide Catalonia administratively. In addition, vegueries are intended to become Catalonia's first-level administrative division and a full replacement for the four deputations of the Catalan provinces, creating a council for each vegueria,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=palau|first=òscar|title=Traient l'entrellat a les vegueries – 12 març 2010 |url=https://www.elpuntavui.cat/article/146574-traient-lentrellat-a-les-vegueries.html|access-date=2023-06-29|website=El Punt Avui|language=ca|archive-date=29 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629220933/https://www.elpuntavui.cat/article/146574-traient-lentrellat-a-les-vegueries.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=femVallès|date=2020-04-28|title=La Catalunya de 9 vegueries (en 4 províncies) – femVallès|url=https://www.femvalles.cat/la-catalunya-de-9-vegueries-en-4-provincies/|access-date=2023-06-29|language=ca|archive-date=8 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208083647/https://www.femvalles.cat/la-catalunya-de-9-vegueries-en-4-provincies/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Se impide crear veguerías alterando los límites provinciales {{!}} Barcelona {{!}} elmundo.es|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/07/09/barcelona/1278690407.html|access-date=2023-06-29|website=www.elmundo.es|archive-date=15 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615115731/https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/07/09/barcelona/1278690407.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but this has not been realised as changes to the statewide provinces system are unconstitutional without a constitutional amendment.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=324cat|date=2010-07-09|title=El Constitucional només admet les vegueries si es conserven les províncies|url=https://www.ccma.cat/324/el-constitucional-nomes-admet-les-vegueries-si-es-conserven-les-provincies/noticia/761666/|access-date=2023-06-29|website=CCMA|language=ca|archive-date=29 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629220939/https://www.ccma.cat/324/el-constitucional-nomes-admet-les-vegueries-si-es-conserven-les-provincies/noticia/761666/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The territorial plan of Catalonia ({{lang|ca|Pla territorial general de Catalunya}}) provided six general functional areas,<ref>{{cite web|title=Pla territorial general de Catalunya|url=http://www10.gencat.net/ptop/AppJava/cat/plans/general/ptgeneral.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704031039/http://www10.gencat.net/ptop/AppJava/cat/plans/general/ptgeneral.jsp|archive-date=4 July 2010|access-date=20 July 2010|publisher=Generalitat de Catalunya}}</ref> but was amended by Law{{nbsp}}24/2001, of 31{{nbsp}}December, recognizing ''Alt Pirineu and Aran'' as a new functional area differentiated of Ponent.<ref>[http://www10.gencat.net/ptop/AppJava/cat/plans/parcials/ptapa/aprovacio_definitiva.jsp Aprovació del Pla territorial parcial de l'Alt Pirineu i Aran]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513132200/http://www10.gencat.net/ptop/AppJava/cat/plans/parcials/ptapa/aprovacio_definitiva.jsp|date=13 May 2008}}</ref> After some opposition from some territories, it was made possible for the Aran Valley to retain its government (the vegueria is renamed to ''Alt Pirineu'', although the name ''Alt Pirineu and Aran'' is still used by the regional plan)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-21|title=Mapa de Vegueries a Catalunya (2021): On és el teu municipi? |url=https://beteve.cat/mobilitat/mapa-vegueries-catalunya/|access-date=2023-06-29|website=beteve.cat|language=ca|archive-date=29 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629220932/https://beteve.cat/mobilitat/mapa-vegueries-catalunya/|url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2016, the Catalan Parliament approved the eighth vegueria, Penedès, split from the Barcelona region.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|date=8 February 2017|title=Catalunya ja té vuit vegueries: El Parlament aprova la creació de la vegueria del Penedès|url=https://www.ara.cat/societat/catalunya-vegueries-parlament-vegueria-penedes_1_1410475.html|access-date=4 February 2024|archive-date=6 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306141747/https://www.ara.cat/societat/catalunya-vegueries-parlament-vegueria-penedes_1_1410475.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

As of 2022, the eight regions and their populations were:

* [[Alt Pirineu i Aran|Alt Pirineu]] (capital [[La Seu d'Urgell]]): 63,892 population
* [[Àmbit metropolità de Barcelona|Barcelona]] (capital [[Barcelona]]): 4,916,847 population
* [[Camp de Tarragona]] (capital [[Tarragona]]): 536,453 population
* [[Catalunya Central|Central Catalonia]] (capital [[Manresa]]): 413,349 population
* [[Comarques Gironines|Girona]] (capital [[Girona]]): 761,690 population
* [[Ponent]] (capital [[Lleida]]): 365,289 population
* [[Penedès (division)|Penedès]] (capital [[Vilanova i la Geltrú]]): 497,764 population
* [[Terres de l'Ebre]] (capital [[Tortosa]]): 182,231 population
* [[Val d'Aran|Aran Valley]] (capital [[Vielha e Mijaran]]): 10,194 population

==== Comarques ====
{{Main|Comarques of Catalonia}}
Comarques (often known as ''counties'' in English, but different from the historical [[Catalan counties]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Idescat. Statistical Yearbook of Catalonia. County councils. Councillors. Counties.|url=https://www.idescat.cat/indicadors/?id=aec&n=15897&lang=en|access-date=2023-11-27|website=www.idescat.cat|archive-date=4 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204193734/https://www.idescat.cat/indicadors/?id=aec&n=15897&lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-05-06|title=Festivals in southern Terres de l'Ebre counties form new group to increase visibility|url=https://www.catalannews.com/culture/item/festivals-in-southern-terres-de-lebre-counties-unite-in-new-group-to-increase-visibility|access-date=2023-11-27|website=www.catalannews.com|language=en|archive-date=4 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204193735/https://www.catalannews.com/culture/item/festivals-in-southern-terres-de-lebre-counties-unite-in-new-group-to-increase-visibility|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus: Spain puts 200,000 people in Catalonia back into lockdown as cases rise|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-spain-puts-200-000-people-in-catalonia-back-into-lockdown-as-cases-rise-12020938|access-date=2023-11-27|website=Sky News|language=en|archive-date=4 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204193734/https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-spain-puts-200-000-people-in-catalonia-back-into-lockdown-as-cases-rise-12020938|url-status=live}}</ref>) are entities composed of municipalities to internally manage their responsibilities and services. The current regional division has its roots in a decree of the Generalitat de Catalunya of 1936, in effect until 1939, when it was suppressed by Franco. In 1987 the Catalan Government reestablished the comarcal division and in 1988 three new comarques were added ([[Alta Ribagorça]], [[Pla d'Urgell]] and [[Pla de l'Estany]]). Some further revisions have been realised since then, such as the additions of [[Moianès]] and [[Lluçanès]] counties, in 2015 and 2023 respectively. Except for [[Barcelonès]], every comarca is administered by a [[comarcal council]] ({{lang|ca|consell comarcal}}).

As of 2024, Catalonia is divided in 42 counties plus the [[Val d'Aran|Aran Valley]]. The latter, although previously (and still informally) considered a comarca, obtained in 1990 a particular status within Catalonia due to its differences in culture and language, being administered by a body known as the {{lang|oc|[[Conselh Generau d'Aran]]}} (General Council of Aran), and in 2015 it was defined as a "unique territorial entity" instead of a county.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/CCAA/ca-l16-1990.html#|title=Ley 16/1990, de 13 de julio, sobre el régimen especial del Valle de Arán. |publisher=Noticias Jurídicas|access-date=20 July 2010|archive-date=8 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608204441/http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/CCAA/ca-l16-1990.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Municipalities ====
{{Further|Municipalities of Catalonia}}
There are at present 947{{nbsp}}municipalities ({{lang|ca|municipis}}) in Catalonia. Each municipality is run by a council ({{lang|ca|ajuntament}}) elected every four years by the residents in local elections. The council consists of a number of members ({{lang|ca|regidors}}) depending on population, who elect the [[mayor]] ({{lang|ca|alcalde}} or {{lang|ca|batlle}}). Its seat is the [[town hall]] ({{lang|ca|ajuntament}}, {{lang|ca|casa de la ciutat}} or {{lang|ca|casa de la vila}}).

<gallery class="center" widths="185" heights="150" caption="Catalan regional capitals">
Eixample aire cropped.jpg|An aerial view of [[Barcelona]]
La Seu d'Urgell (Torre Solsona).JPG|[[La Seu d'Urgell]] from the Solsona tower
E5320-Vista-de-Tarragona.jpg|The city of [[Tarragona]]
Manresa des del mirador de la Balconada.jpg|The city of [[Manresa]] from the Balconada viewpoint
Girona des de l aire.jpg|The city of [[Girona]]
Lleida (40262867523).jpg|The city of [[Lleida]] by the Segre river
Vilanova i la Geltru.jpg|[[Vilanova i la Geltrú]] from the city's port
Tortosa - La Suda.jpg|The city of [[Tortosa]]
VIELHA - VAL D'ARAN - IB-399.JPG|[[Vielha e Mijaran]] from the Vielha viewpoint
</gallery>