Editing History of Catalonia (section)

=== Independence process ===
{{Main|Catalan independence}}
[[File:11s2012 Via Laietana.JPG|thumb|right|The 2012 Catalan independence demonstration]]

The new Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, approved by referendum, was contested by important sectors of the Spanish nationalism and the conservative [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]], sending the law to the partisan Constitutional Court of Spain which, in 2010, decided to declare nonvalid some of the articles that established an autonomous Catalan system of Justice, aspects of the financing, the status of the Catalan language or the references of Catalonia as a nation.<ref>[http://www.ccma.cat/324/Els-articles-anullats-per-inconstitucionals/noticia/747106/ Els articles anul·lats per inconstitucionals.] ccma.cat</ref> As a response, on 10 July 2010, a [[2010 Catalan autonomy protest|successful demonstration]] was held, and the civil society started a process of organization in order to exert the right of self-determination. While the economic crisis affected profoundly Spain, CiU win the [[2010 Catalan regional election|Catalan election of 2010]], promising a fiscal agreement [[Basque Economic Agreement|similar to the Basque]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mas |first1=Artur |title=Pacto fiscal catalán |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/elecciones-catalanas-2010/20101012/54022382741/pacto-fiscal-catalan.html |access-date=27 January 2019 |work=La Vanguardia |date=12 October 2010}}</ref> Its leader, [[Artur Mas]], was appointed as president. Initially supported by the PP, his government carried out a program of austerity. During the National Day of Catalonia, on 11 September 2012, a [[2012 Catalan independence demonstration|massive demonstration]] in the streets of Barcelona organized by the organization Catalan National Assembly (''[[Assemblea Nacional Catalana]]'', ANC) claimed for independence and a referendum of self-determination.<ref>{{cite news|last=Khazan |first=Olga |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/catalonia-rallies-for-independence-on-catalan-national-day/2012/09/11/ac729d80-fc24-11e1-a31e-804fccb658f9_blog.html |title=Catalonia rallies for independence on 'Catalan National Day' |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=11 September 2012 |access-date=14 September 2012}}</ref>

On 23 January 2013, parliament approved a [[Catalan Sovereignty Declaration|Declaration on the Sovereignty and right to decide of the people of Catalonia]] asserting that Catalonia is a sovereign entity and calls for a referendum on independence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Catalonia declares itself a sovereign entity|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/catalonia-declares-itself-sovereign-entity|agency=Associated Press|access-date=23 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Catalan Parliament approves the 'Declaration of sovereignty and the right to self-determination by the people of Catalonia'|url=http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/the-catalan-parliament-approves-the-declaration-of-sovereignty-and-the-right-to-self-determination-by-the-people-of-catalonia|publisher=Catalan News Agency|date=23 January 2013|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref> After the impediments of Spanish institutions, on 9 November 2014 the [[Government of Catalonia]] organized the [[2014 Catalan self-determination referendum|independence referendum]], in which allegedly 1.6 million out of potential 5.4 million voters or 80.8% of the 2.25 million cast votes supported the independence option (as per unofficial records).<ref>{{cite web|title=2.25 million Catalans participate in non-binding vote, independence option won with 80% support |url=http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/2-25-million-catalans-participate-in-non-binding-vote-independence-option-won-with-80-support|publisher=Catalan News Agency|date=10 November 2014|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Catalonia independence: 80% vote to split from Spain|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/catalonia-independence-80-vote-to-split-from-spain-9850332.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=10 November 2014|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref>

On 9 November 2015, parliament approved a [[Declaration to start the independence process of Catalonia]] asserting the start of the process to create an independent Catalan state in the form of a republic.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Parliament declares the start of the independence process|url=http://www.catalannewsagency.com/politics/item/the-parliament-declares-the-start-of-the-independence-process|publisher=Catalan News Agency|date=9 November 2015|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Catalonia launches process of separation from Spain|url=http://english.vilaweb.cat/noticies/catalonia-launches-process-of-separation-from-spain/|publisher=VilaWeb|date=9 November 2015|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Catalonia's parliament votes to begin setting up an independent state|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/11984516/Catalonias-parliament-votes-to-begin-setting-up-an-independent-state.html|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=9 November 2015|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=In Catalonia, the Independence Process Begins|url=https://www.stratfor.com/analysis/catalonia-independence-process-begins|publisher=Stratfor|date=9 November 2015|access-date=10 November 2015}}</ref>