UK Parliament MP presents motion recognising Catalonia as a nation

London (CNA).- An MP has presented a motion in the Westminster Parliament in support for Catalonia and the Catalan Statute of Autonomy approved in the 2006 referendum. “Catalonia is a nation, that is how Catalans see it, and that is certainly how I see it from London”, said Plaid Cymru MP Hywel Williams, who presented the motion in Parliament. “The statement expresses our support and solidarity with the people in Catalonia”, said Williams, who noted the 'remarkable' demonstration of more than one million people that took place in Catalonia on July 10th.
The statement promoted by the Welsh MPs recognises 'the right' of Catalan residents 'to democratically determine their own future'. In fact, the protest on July 10th had the motto ‘We are a nation. We decide'. The text presented in the UK Parliament states that the protest in Barcelona was 'in favour of proper powers for Catalonia' and welcomes 'the continuing debate over the constitution of Catalonia'.

The motion expresses concern that 'future constitutional developments in Catalonia which take place with the support of the governments and people of Catalonia may face judicial review by organisations which are not neutral or independent'. The 2006 Statute of Catalonia was passed by the Catalan and Spanish Parliaments and voted on in referendum, but the Spanish Constitutional Court decided to cut 14 of its articles and reinterpret 23 others. The ruling reduced the scope of devolved powers in Catalonia and stated that Catalonia cannot be legally recognised as a nation because Spain is the state’s 'only nation'.

Williams argued that the Constitutional Court in Madrid has not been 'independent' in the ruling about the Statute of Catalonia. “We support decisions to be made in Catalonia and not to be subject to revision by people from outside”, he said. “It is important for us to make our views known as Welsh nationalists, and to show our solidarity with the people in Catalonia, and for the people of Catalonia to know where we stand”. Some Scottish and Irish MPs are also expected to support the motion, and Williams hopes that English MPs will also be sensible to the situation in Catalonia.