Scottish Government supports referendum on independence for Catalonia

The government of Scotland has made a clear statement of support for the Catalan people to have the right to vote for their independence from Spain. Catalonia has its own democratically elected parliament, which is in charge of a great number of its own affairs. The Catalan parliament has voted to hold a referendum on independence from Spain. The vote is supported by the Catalan President and the Catalan government and a referendum is to be held on 1st October 2017. However, the Spanish authorities are making a concerted attack on internationally accepted guidance on the very principle of democracy and self determination.

In a statement released on the Scottish Government website, Fiona Hyslop Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs Fiona Hyslop wrote:

 “The decision over Catalonia’s future direction is a matter for the people who live there, and the Catalan and Spanish Governments are perfectly entitled to take positions for and against independence.

 “However, all peoples have the right to self-determination and to choose the form of government best suited to their needs, a principle which is enshrined in the UN Charter.

 “The Edinburgh Agreement was an example of how two governments, with diametrically opposed views on whether or not Scotland should become independent, were able to come together to agree a process to allow the people to decide. It is essential that democracy and civil rights are respected in all countries.”