Editing Autonomous communities of Spain (section)

==== Catalan independence ====
The severe [[Economy of Spain|economic crisis in Spain]] that started in 2008 produced different reactions in the different communities. On one hand, some began to consider a return of some responsibilities to the central government<ref name=abc>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.es/20110729/espana/abcp-varias-autonomias-meditan-devolver-20110729.html|title=Varias autonomías meditan devolver competencias por el bloqueo del gobierno|publisher=[[ABC (Spain)|ABC]]|date=29 July 2011|access-date=29 January 2012}}</ref> while, on the other hand, in Catalonia debate on the fiscal deficit—"Catalonia being one of the largest net contributors in taxes"{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}—led many to support secession.<ref name=nextstate>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21563347|title=Catalonia: Europe's next state. A row about money and sovereignty|newspaper=The Economist|date=22 September 2012|access-date=29 September 2012}}</ref><ref name=guardianfabric>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/28/spain-cultural-fabric-tears-austerity-cuts|title=Spain's cultural fabric tearing apart as austerity takes its toll|last1=Tremlett|first1=Giles|last2=Roberts|first2=Martin|newspaper=The Guardian|date=28 September 2012|access-date=29 September 2012}}</ref> In September 2012, [[Artur Mas]], then Catalonia's president, requested from the central government a new "fiscal agreement", with the possibility of giving his community powers of fiscal autonomy equal to those of the  [[Communities of chartered regime|chartered communities]], but prime minister [[Mariano Rajoy]] refused. Mas dissolved the Catalan Parliament, called for new elections, and promised to conduct a referendum on independence within the next four years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Two thirds of the Catalan Parliament approve organising a self-determination citizen vote within the next 4 years |url=http://www.catalannewsagency.com/news/politics/two-thirds-catalan-parliament-approve-organising-self-determination-citizen-vote-withi |publisher=Catalan News Agency |date=28 September 2012 |access-date=29 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001020028/http://www.catalannewsagency.com/news/politics/two-thirds-catalan-parliament-approve-organising-self-determination-citizen-vote-withi |archive-date=1 October 2012 }}</ref>

Rajoy's government declared that they would use all "legal instruments"—current legislation requires the central executive government or the [[Congress of Deputies (Spain)|Congress of Deputies]] to call for or sanction a binding referendum—<ref name=ley>{{cite web|url=http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/Admin/lo2-1980.html|title=Ley Orgánica 2/1980, de 18 de enero, sobre Regulación de las Distintas Modalidades de Referéndum|publisher=Congress of the Deputies, Spain|date=18 January 1980|access-date=29 September 2012}}</ref> to block any such attempt.<ref name=clash>{{cite news|title=Spain heads towards confrontation with Catalan parliament|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/27/spain-heads-towards-confrontation-catalan?INTCMP=SRCH|newspaper=The Guardian|date=27 September 2012|access-date=29 September 2012}}</ref> The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and its [[Socialist Party of Catalonia|counterpart in Catalonia]] proposed to reopen the debate on the territorial organization of Spain, changing the constitution to create a true [[federation|federal system]] to "better reflect the singularities" of Catalonia, as well as to modify the current taxation system.<ref name=estadofederal>{{cite news|url=http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2012/09/24/actualidad/1348472542_065250.html|title=Rubalcaba, a favor de cambiar la Constitución para ir a un Estado federal|newspaper=[[El País]]|date=24 September 2012|access-date=29 September 2012|last1=Calvo|first1=Vera Gutiérrez|last2=País|first2=El}}</ref><ref name=navarro>{{cite web|url=http://www.elperiodico.cat/ca/noticias/politica/navarro-candidatura-psc-eleccions-autonomiques-terrassa-2214254|title=Navarro presenta la seva candidatura aquesta tarda a Terrassa|publisher=El Periódico de Catalunya|date=28 September 2012|access-date=29 September 2012}}</ref>

In 2017 and 2018 the situation developed into [[2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis|constitutional crisis]]. Following a highly fraught attempted [[2017 Catalan independence referendum|referendum]], on Friday 27 October 2017 the Catalan Parliament voted on the independence of Catalonia; the result was 70 in favor, 10 against, 2 neither, with 53 representatives not present in protest. In the following days, the members of the Catalan government either fled or were imprisoned.

One scholar summarises the current situation as follows:

<blockquote>the autonomous state appears to have come full circle, with reproaches from all sides. According to some, it has not gone far enough and has failed to satisfy their aspirations for improved self-government. For others it has gone too far, fostering inefficiency or reprehensible linguistic policies.{{sfn|Arbós Marín|2013|page=395}}
</blockquote>