La Vanguardia, August 4, 2015
Catalonia is set to go to the polls next month, as regional President Artur Mas called early elections for Sept. 27, intending to use the vote as a fresh bid for independence. He announced the election as “an exceptional measure,” says Tuesday’s front page of La Vanguardia.
In a televised event Monday night from Barcelona, Mas signed the voting order, blaming Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s central government for refusing to engage in talks over the future of Catalonia — which accounts for 20% of Spain’s GDP.
Mas’ ruling Convergence party and the region’s second party, the Republican Left of Catalonia, are running joint candidates, and say they will unilaterally leave Spain if they obtain a majority, reports the Associated Press. Meanwhile, anti-austerity party Podemos have said Catalans have the right to decide, but the party wants the region to stay as part of Spain. Recent opinion polls have shown that a slim majority oppose secession.
Barcelona-based La Vanguardia is Catalonia’s leading newspaper, printed in both Spanish and Catalan.
