Proposal for Reform of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia
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Estatut de Catalunya Proposal for reform of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia PREAMBLE The Catalan nation has been constructed over the course of time by means of creation of wealth, full and quality employment, and a permanent commitment the active contributions of many generations, traditions and cultures, all of which to the fight against inequality, discrimination, injustice and poverty. have found their homeland in Catalonia. Catalonia has defined a language, modelled a landscape, welcomed other languages and other cultural These rights are exercised in conjunction with individual responsibility and the manifestations, shown its openness to generous interchange, constructed a civic duty to actively participate in a shared project, which is the joint system of rights and freedoms, made its own laws and, finally, has developed a construction of this society, the organisation of which is based on proximity to model of supportive coexistence which strives for social justice. the people through municipal councils, comarques and vegueries, all of which make up the institutional system of the Generalitat. This Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia follows in the tradition of the Constitutions and other rights of Catalonia, which historically have provided a Catalan self-government is based, therefore, on these values and objectives, political and social structure for the men and women of Catalonia. developed within Catalonia and promoted in Spain and in Europe, and above all, on a defence of the plurality of languages and cultures, to which Catalonia Since 1714, various attempts have been made to recover our institutions of self- contributes with Catalan, the right and proper language of all its citizens, government. The milestones on this path through history were, among others, irrespective of the language used by each citizen habitually. the Mancomunitat of 1914, the re-establishment of the Generalitat, the Statutes of 1932 and 1979, all of which were manifestations of Catalonia’s wish to This Estatut is written by a free people for a free people. Political freedoms exercise, then as now, its inalienable right to self-government. achieved as a country should never infringe on the individual freedoms of the citizens of Catalonia, since the only truly free country is one in which each The Estatut is, therefore, the custodian of a common heritage, and preserves, individual may live and express his or her identity, whatever it may be, without moreover, the memory of all those who have fought for recognition of the hierarchical or dependent relationships. national rights of Catalonia and the social rights of the Catalans, including those who were exiled or who even lost their lives. This Estatut, therefore, establishes the following: However, over and above this heritage, the driving force behind this Estatut is One.- Catalonia is a nation. the aspiration, project and dream of a Catalonia with no impediments of any Two.- The Generalitat, re-established in 1931, has never ceased to exist, nature to the free and full interdependence that all nations of today require. whether in its own land or in exile, thanks to the tenacity of the people and The wish and right of the citizens of Catalonia to freely determine their future as the loyalty of their leaders. a people that has been repeatedly expressed by the Parliament of Catalonia Three.- Catalonia, affirming its historical rights, has developed and holds corresponds to an affirmation of national identity, historically represented by the a unique position with respect to its language, culture, civil law and institution that is the Generalitat,which existed until the 18th century, was later territorial organisation. recovered and, without interruption, upheld as the maximum expression of the historical rights of Catalonia, which rights this Estatut incorporates and brings Four.- Catalonia is a land rich in territories and peoples, with a diversity into the present. that has defined and enriched it over the centuries and that strengthens it for the future. Today, by means of this new Estatut, Catalonia, in its process of constructing a nation, expresses its desire to exist and to continue progressing towards both Five.- Catalonia considers Spain to be a plurinational State. recognition of its collective identity, and perfection and extension of self- Six.- Catalonia exists in a spirit of fraternity with the peoples of Spain and government. in solidarity with the rest of the world. This Estatut therefore provides a definition of the institutions of the Catalan Seven.- Catalan law is applicable as a matter of preference. nation and of their relationship with the peoples of Spain, within a framework of freely expressed solidarity with the nationalities and regions that constitute Eight.- The democratic political tradition in Catalonia has always Spain and compatible with a plurinational Spain. emphasised the importance of rights and obligations, knowledge, education, social cohesion, and equal rights, and most particularly, the Likewise established is Catalonia’s relationship with Europe, where all national equality of men and women. communities participate equally in governmental and legislative institutions in order to contribute to the construction of Europe. Nine.- Access to universal systems of communication, transport, innovation, research and technology, and also to sustainable This Estatut is conceived as that of Catalonia and L’Aran, since the citizens of development, shall be primordial for the Catalan people. Catalonia and their political institutions recognise L’Aran as a national entity in its own right. Ten.- Catalonia, within the framework of its powers and through Spain, belongs to the European Union, shares its values and the European model By means of this Estatut, Catalonia wishes to progress towards an improved of welfare and progress, and offers its friendship and collaboration to form of democracy, based on a suitable balance between rights and obligations neighbouring communities and regions in order to form a Mediterranean and on citizen participation. This principle guides the actions of the public Euro-region that serves the purpose of promoting common interests. authorities, which serve both the general interest and the rights of citizens, including the rights to wellbeing, quality of life, peaceful coexistence, efficient In order to keep faith with these principles and to exercise the inalienable right and quality public services, protection of the environment, access to a universal of Catalonia to self-government, the members of the Catalan parliament hereby benefits system that fosters equality and social cohesion, not to mention the propose: CATALONIA TODAY 16 ESTATUT THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2005 PRELIMINARY TITLE 3. The national day of Catalonia is La Diada, the eleventh of September. ARTICLE 1. THE CATALAN NATION 4. The national anthem of Catalonia is Els segadors. 1. Catalonia is a nation. 5. Parliament shall regulate the diverse expressions of the symbolic framework of Catalonia and 2. Catalonia, which exercises self-government through its own institutions, is constituted as an shall define their order of protocol. autonomous community in accordance with the Constitution and this Estatut. 6. Legal protection extended to the symbols of Catalonia shall be the same as that for other symbols of Spain. ARTICLE 2. THE GENERALITAT ARTICLE 9. TERRITORY 1. TheGeneralitat is the institutional system around which Catalonia’s self-government is politically organised. The territory of Catalonia is that corresponding to the geographical and administrative limits of the Generalitat as of the moment that this Estatut comes into force. 2. The Generalitat consists of the Parliament, the Presidency of the Generalitat, the Government and the other institutions described in Chapter V of Title II. 3. Municipalities, vegueries, comarques and other local government bodies determined by law ARTICLE 10. THE CAPITAL constitute the institutional system of the Generalitat,being the bodies according to which the The capital of Catalonia is the city of Barcelona, as the permanent seat of Parliament, of the latter is territorially organised, without prejudice to their autonomy. Presidency of the Generalitat and of the Government, without prejudice to possible meetings of 4. The powers of the Generalitat are decided by the people of Catalonia and are exercised Parliament and Government in other locations in Catalonia, in accordance with the Rulings of according to this Estatut and the Constitution. Parliament and the law. ARTICLE 3. POLITICAL FRAMEWORK ARTICLE 11. L’ARAN 1. The relationship of the Generalitat with the Spanish State, based on the principle of mutual 1. The people of L’Aran exercise self-government through this Estatut,the Conselh Generau de institutional loyalty, is regulated by the general principle according to which the Generalitat is the l’Aran and any other institutions of its own. state, by the principle of autonomy, by the principle of Spanish plurinationalism, and by the 2. The citizens of Catalonia and their political institutions recognise L’Aran as an Occitan principle of bilateralism, and does not, moreover, exclude the use of multilateral participation national entity, on the basis of a unique cultural, historical, geographical and linguistic identity mechanisms. defended its people over the centuries. This Estatut recognises, protects and respects this 2. Catalonia takes the European Union as its political and geographical point of reference and uniqueness