Editing Catalonia (section)

=== Transition and democratic period (1975–''present'') ===
[[File:Barcelona AUGUST 1992 the Olympic Games (Juegos Olímpicos de Barcelona 1992) - panoramio.jpg|thumb|200px|The Olympic flame in the [[Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys|Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys]] of [[Barcelona]] during the [[1992 Summer Olympics]]]]
After Franco's death in 1975, Catalonia voted for the adoption of a democratic Spanish Constitution in 1978, in which Catalonia recovered political and cultural autonomy, restoring the Generalitat (exiled since the end of the Civil War in 1939) in 1977 and adopting a [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 1979|new Statute of Autonomy]] in 1979, which defined Catalonia as a "nationality". The [[1980 Catalan regional election|first elections]] to the Parliament of Catalonia under this Statute gave the Catalan presidency to [[Jordi Pujol]], leader of [[Convergence and Unity|Convergència i Unió]] (CiU), a center-right Catalan nationalist electoral coalition, with Pujol re-elected until 2003. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the institutions of Catalan autonomy were deployed, among them an autonomous police force, the [[Mossos d'Esquadra]], in 1983,<ref>[https://mossos.gencat.cat/ca/els_mossos_desquadra/historia_de_la_pg-me/ History of the Mossos d'Esquadra] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929085556/https://mossos.gencat.cat/ca/els_mossos_desquadra/historia_de_la_pg-me/|date=29 September 2020}} mossos.gencat.cat</ref> and the broadcasting network [[Televisió de Catalunya]] and its first channel [[TV3 (Catalonia)|TV3]], created in 1983.<ref>[http://www.ccma.cat/corporatiu/en/historia/ History of Televisió de Catalunya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923021301/https://www.ccma.cat/corporatiu/en/historia/|date=23 September 2020}} ccma.cat</ref> An extensive program of normalization of Catalan language was carried out. Today, Catalonia remains one of the most economically dynamic communities of Spain. The Catalan capital and largest city, Barcelona, is a major international cultural centre and a major tourist destination. In 1992, [[1992 Summer Olympics|Barcelona hosted]] the [[Summer Olympic Games]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/barcelona-1992-a-city-turning-towards-the-sea-and-winning-the-hearts-of-the-world|title=Barcelona 1992: a city turning towards the sea and winning the hearts of the world|publisher=[[International Olympic Committee|IOC]]|date=22 July 2022|access-date=18 February 2024|archive-date=2 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002102449/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/barcelona-1992-a-city-turning-towards-the-sea-and-winning-the-hearts-of-the-world|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Independence movement ====
{{Main|Catalan independence movement|2017–18 Spanish constitutional crisis}}
In November 2003, elections to the Parliament of Catalonia gave the government to a left-wing Catalanist coalition formed by the [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia]] (PSC-PSOE), [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] (ERC) and [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens]] (ICV), and the socialist [[Pasqual Maragall]] was appointed president. The new government prepared a bill for a [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia|new Statute of Autonomy]], with the aim of consolidate and expand self-government.

The new Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, approved after a referendum in 2006, was contested by important sectors of the Spanish society, especially by the conservative [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]], which sent the law to the [[Constitutional Court of Spain]]. In 2010, the Court declared non-valid some of the articles that established an autonomous Catalan system of Justice, improved financing, a new territorial division, the status of Catalan language or the symbolical declaration of Catalonia as a nation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/3748884/20100629/sentencia-lestatut-obre-nova-era-politica-catalunya.html|title=Anàlisi de les retallades a l'estatut de Catalunya|last=associats|first=Partal, Maresma i|access-date=13 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913152842/http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/3748884/20100629/sentencia-lestatut-obre-nova-era-politica-catalunya.html|archive-date=13 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> This decision was severely contested by large sectors of Catalan society, which increased the demands of independence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ara.cat/especials/gentada-centre-Barcelona-mitja-manifestacio_0_772122901.html|title=Un milió i mig de manifestants per la independència de Catalunya|access-date=13 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918025513/http://www.ara.cat/especials/gentada-centre-Barcelona-mitja-manifestacio_0_772122901.html|archive-date=18 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:President_Puigdemont,_"Ciutadans_de_Catalunya,_vénen_hores_en_què_a_tots_ens_pertocarà_de_mantenir_el_pols_del_nostre_país"_02.jpg|thumb|[[President of the Generalitat of Catalonia|Catalan president]], [[Carles Puigdemont]], addresses the crowd following the unilateral declaration of independence on 27 October.]]
A controversial [[2017 Catalan independence referendum|independence referendum]] was held in Catalonia on 1 October 2017, using a disputed voting process.<ref name="ElPais03102017">{{cite web|url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/10/01/inenglish/1506858911_482600.html|title=Did the referendum comply with basic voting regulations?|date=3 October 2017|work=[[El País]]|access-date=5 October 2017|archive-date=19 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219083639/https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/10/01/inenglish/1506858911_482600.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/happened-catalonias-vote-independence-whats-next/|title=What happened with Catalonia's vote for independence – and what's next|last=Epatko|first=Larisa|date=4 October 2017|work=[[PBS NewsHour]]|access-date=4 October 2017|archive-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018212431/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/happened-catalonias-vote-independence-whats-next/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was declared illegal and suspended by the [[Constitutional Court of Spain]], because it breached the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978|1978 Constitution]].<ref name="boe2162017">{{cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2017/09/08/pdfs/BOE-A-2017-10287.pdf|title=Recurso de inconstitucionalidad n.º 4334-2017, contra la Ley del Parlamento de Cataluña 19/2017, de 6 de septiembre, del Referéndum de Autodeterminación. |publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|date=6 September 2017|access-date=5 October 2017|language=es|archive-date=10 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510084254/https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2017/09/08/pdfs/BOE-A-2017-10287.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-10/catalan-separatists-plot-show-of-strength-in-battle-with-madrid|title=Catalan Separatists Plot Show of Force in Battle With Madrid|last=Duarte|first=Esteban|date=11 September 2017|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=13 September 2017|language=en|archive-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913135534/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-10/catalan-separatists-plot-show-of-strength-in-battle-with-madrid|url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequent developments saw, on 27 October 2017, a symbolic [[Catalan declaration of independence|declaration of independence]] by the Parliament of Catalonia, the enforcement of [[Direct rule over Catalonia|direct rule]] by the Spanish government through the use of Article 155 of the Constitution,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2017/oct/22/protests-in-barcelona-against-suspension-of-catalan-autonomy-in-pictures|title=Protests in Barcelona against suspension of Catalan autonomy – in pictures|last=Fidler|first=Matt|date=22 October 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=2 August 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727075818/https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2017/oct/22/protests-in-barcelona-against-suspension-of-catalan-autonomy-in-pictures|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41780116|title=Catalans declare independence from Spain|date=27 October 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=27 October 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=22 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122093014/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41780116|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Sam|last2=Burgen|first2=Stephen|last3=Graham-Harrison|first3=Emma|title=Spain dissolves Catalan parliament and calls fresh elections|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/27/spanish-pm-mariano-rajoy-asks-senate-powers-dismiss-catalonia-president|work=[[the Guardian]]|date=28 October 2017|language=en|access-date=28 February 2018|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426010929/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/27/spanish-pm-mariano-rajoy-asks-senate-powers-dismiss-catalonia-president|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.es/2017/10/27/directo-el-senado-vota-la-aplicacion-del-155-y-el-parlament-catalan-su-respuesta-al-mismo_a_23257831/|title=Directo: El Senado aprueba la aplicación del 155|date=27 October 2017|access-date=20 November 2017|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729205030/https://www.huffingtonpost.es/2017/10/27/directo-el-senado-vota-la-aplicacion-del-155-y-el-parlament-catalan-su-respuesta-al-mismo_a_23257831/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2017/10/27/59f2d55aca4741a0668b4646.html|title=En vivo – Rajoy disuelve el Parlament y convoca elecciones catalanas el 21 de diciembre|date=27 October 2017|access-date=20 November 2017|archive-date=30 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730004007/https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2017/10/27/59f2d55aca4741a0668b4646.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the dismissal of the [[Executive Council of Catalonia|Executive Council]] and the dissolution of the Parliament, with a [[2017 Catalan regional election|snap regional election]] called for 21 December 2017, which ended with a victory of pro-independence parties.<ref name="eldiario.es-27Oct17">{{cite news|last=Ponce de León|first=Rodrigo|date=27 October 2017|title=Rajoy cesa a Puigdemont y su Govern y convoca elecciones para el 21 de diciembre|url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Rajoy-cesa-Puigdemont-Govern_0_701680927.html|language=es|work=El Diario|access-date=27 October 2017|archive-date=27 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027232406/http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Rajoy-cesa-Puigdemont-Govern_0_701680927.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Former President [[Carles Puigdemont]] and five former cabinet ministers fled Spain and took refuge in other European countries (such as [[Belgium]], in Puigdemont's case), whereas nine other cabinet members, including vice-president [[Oriol Junqueras]], were sentenced to prison under various charges of rebellion, sedition, and misuse of public funds.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41871476|title=Catalonia's longest week|date=4 November 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=7 November 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813153635/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41871476|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/catalonia-independence/89469/catalonia-independence-nine-former-ministers-jailed|title=Catalonia Independence: nine former ministers jailed|date=3 November 2017|work=The Week|access-date=7 October 2018|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729190415/https://www.theweek.co.uk/catalonia-independence/89469/catalonia-independence-nine-former-ministers-jailed|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Quim Torra]] became the [[List of Presidents of the Government of Catalonia|131st]] [[President of the Government of Catalonia]] on 17 May 2018,<ref name="GeneralitatdeCataluny17052018">{{cite web|title=Quim Torra pren possessió com a 131è president de la Generalitat|url=https://web.gencat.cat/ca/actualitat/detall/20180517_Quim-Torra-pren-possessio-com-131e-president-de-la-Generalitat|website=Generalitat de Catalunya|language=ca|date=17 May 2018|access-date=21 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622032919/https://web.gencat.cat/ca/actualitat/detall/20180517_Quim-Torra-pren-possessio-com-131e-president-de-la-Generalitat|archive-date=22 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> after the Spanish courts blocked three other candidates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/23/spanish-judge-jails-proposed-catalan-leader-hours-ahead-planned/|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/23/spanish-judge-jails-proposed-catalan-leader-hours-ahead-planned/|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=Spanish judge jails proposed Catalan leader hours ahead of planned inauguration|first=Hannah|last=Strange|date=23 March 2018|newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2018, the [[Assemblea Nacional Catalana]] joined the [[Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization]] (UNPO) on behalf of Catalonia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNPO: UNPO Welcomes the Assemblea Nacional Catalana as its Newest Member|work=unpo.org|access-date=31 January 2019|date=10 January 2019|url=https://unpo.org/article/21315|archive-date=28 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728192535/https://unpo.org/article/21315|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 14 October 2019, the Spanish Supreme court [[Trial of Catalonia independence leaders|sentenced several Catalan political leaders]], involved in organizing a referendum on Catalonia's independence from Spain, and convicted them on charges ranging from [[sedition]] to [[Embezzlement|misuse of public funds]], with sentences ranging from 9 to 13 years in prison. This decision sparked demonstrations around Catalonia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/spanish-supreme-court-sentences-catalan-separatists-to-jail/2019/10/14/a0590366-ee59-11e9-89eb-ec56cd414732_story.html|title=Spanish Supreme Court sentences Catalan separatists to prison, sparking protests|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014110950/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/spanish-supreme-court-sentences-catalan-separatists-to-jail/2019/10/14/a0590366-ee59-11e9-89eb-ec56cd414732_story.html|archive-date=14 October 2019|access-date=12 December 2019}}</ref> They were later pardoned by the Spanish government and left prison in June 2021.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Boira|first1=Paula|title=El Gobierno concede el indulto a los presos del 'procés'|url=https://www.newtral.es/indulto-presos-proces-gobierno/20210622/|work=Newtral|date=22 June 2021|language=es|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-date=31 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231012411/https://www.newtral.es/indulto-presos-proces-gobierno/20210622/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=23 June 2021|title=Los presos del 'procés' abandonan la cárcel tras el indulto del Gobierno|language=es|url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2021/06/23/economia/1624443952_813940.html|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623111825/https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2021/06/23/economia/1624443952_813940.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the early-to-mid 2020s support for independence declined.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió, Generalitat de Catalunya |title=Baròmetre d'Opinió Política |url=https://upceo.ceo.gencat.cat/wsceop/9148/Dossier%20de%20premsa_1082.pdf |website=upceo.ceo.gencat.cat |access-date=23 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Sam |title=Separatist parties set to lose power in Catalan regional election, polls show |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/12/catalonia-polls-vote-gauge-support-independence-spain |access-date=23 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=12 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Polls Show Support for Catalonia Independence Declining |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/polls-show-support-for-catalonia-independence-declining/6749031.html |access-date=23 July 2024 |work=Voice of America |date=15 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Heller |first1=Fernando |title=Support for Catalan independence falls to historic low, poll reveals |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/support-for-catalan-independence-falls-to-historic-low-poll-reveals/ |work=www.euractiv.com |date=19 July 2024}}</ref>