Free Catalan Territory

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Free Catalan Territory (Catalan: Territori Català Lliure) is a designation adopted since 2012 by a number of Catalan municipal and comarcal councils. These councils passed symbolic motions declaring that Spanish state laws would apply only provisionally in their territory, pending the creation of Catalan legislation after a potential future declaration of independence. The movement began in early September 2012, when Sant Pere de Torelló was the first town to adopt such a declaration. In the following weeks dozens of municipalities and several county councils joined. Several of those motions were later challenged in administrative courts and some were annulled.[1]

Free Catalan Territory (in Catalan, Territori Català Lliure) was the expression chosen by the councillors of Sant Pere de Torelló in order to define the status quo of the municipality on September 3, 2012, and was also the first town in Catalonia to give itself this name.[2][3][4] From its new condition, the council of Sant Pere de Torelló announced that the October 12, holiday becomes an ordinary weekday, directly conflicting the Spanish legislation.[citation needed]

Since then, more municipalities joined this initiative and approved similar declarations to Sant Pere de Torelló's. Also, there are some municipalities that preferred approving independentist motions, but without explicitly declaring themselves Free Catalan Territory, like Caldes de Montbui[5][6] or Tàrrega.[7]

The October 11th 2012 the first comarcal declaration was approved. The Comarcal Council of La Garrotxa approved a collective motion to declare all that region "Free and Sovereign Catalan Territory".[8] Also, the same day, the Comarcal Council of the Alt Penedès approved supporting those municipalities that approve that kind of motion, hanging an Estelada flag at the balcony of the offices of the Comarcal Council as a symbol "of Catalonia's people desires of sovereignty".[9]

After the first month since Sant Pere de Torelló's declaration, a Catalan newspaper stated that there are approximately 660,000 "free Catalan citizens", which represent almost 9% of Catalonia's total population.[10][11]

The initiative was part of the broader independence mobilisation that followed the 2010 Constitutional Court ruling on the Statute and the large pro-independence demonstrations of 2012. The “Free Catalan Territory” declarations were one local expression of that movement and were later eclipsed by subsequent events in the independence process.[12]

Legal challenges and judicial rulings

The motions were declaratory and political in nature: in general they were symbolic statements by local councils rather than enforceable changes to legal competences. Some municipalities did adopt consequential local administrative adjustments (for example symbolic calendar changes or flag displays), but the motions themselves did not confer new legal powers on municipalities.[13]

Nature and effects

The motions were declaratory and political in nature: in general they were symbolic statements by local councils rather than enforceable changes to legal competences. Some municipalities did adopt consequential local administrative adjustments (for example symbolic calendar changes or flag displays), but the motions themselves did not confer new legal powers on municipalities.[14]

Origins and spread

The first council to use the expression “Territori Català Lliure” was Sant Pere de Torelló on 3 September 2012; the formula spread rapidly through September and October 2012 as dozens of municipalities and some comarcal councils approved similar motions. By 9 October 2012 multiple newspapers were reporting around a hundred municipalities had approved such motions.[15]

Municipalities declared Free Catalan Territory

Since September 3, 2012, 197 Catalan municipalities and five Comarcal councils have declared themselves Free Catalan Territory, representing approximately 20.2% of whole Catalonia's lands.[citation needed]

Map of Catalan municipalities (dark blue) and comarques (light blue) that have so far declared themselves Free Catalan Territory.
No. Municipality Comarca Declaration Date References
1Sant Pere de TorellóOsonaSeptember 3, 2012[16]
2CalldetenesOsonaSeptember 3, 2012[17]
3Cervià de les GarriguesGarriguesSeptember 6, 2012[18]
4MarçàPrioratSeptember 10, 2012[19]
5La Bisbal del PenedèsBaix PenedèsSeptember 10, 2012[20]
6Premià de DaltMaresmeSeptember 10, 2012[21]
7Arenys de MuntMaresmeSeptember 13, 2012[22]
8BolvirCerdanyaSeptember 15, 2012[23]
9VicOsonaSeptember 17, 2012[24]
10TortosaBaix EbreSeptember 17, 2012[25]
11SevaOsonaSeptember 17, 2012[26]
12ArgentonaMaresmeSeptember 17, 2012[27]
13CelràGironèsSeptember 18, 2012[28]
14UllastrellVallès OccidentalSeptember 19, 2012[29]
15Sant Llorenç de MorunysSolsonèsSeptember 19, 2012[30]
16Vallfogona de RipollèsRipollèsSeptember 20, 2012[31]
17CollbatóBaix LlobregatSeptember 20, 2012[32]
18Sant Jaume de LliercaGarrotxaSeptember 20, 2012[33]
19VallsAlt CampSeptember 21, 2012[34]
20VilablareixGironèsSeptember 21, 2012[35]
21OrpíAnoiaSeptember 21, 2012[36]
22CarmeAnoiaSeptember 21, 2012[36]
23TavèrnolesOsonaSeptember 24, 2012[37]
24Cruïlles, Monells i Sant Sadurní de l'HeuraBaix EmpordàSeptember 24, 2012[38]
25NavàsBagesSeptember 24, 2012[39]
26Sant Andreu de LlavaneresMaresmeSeptember 24, 2012[40]
27Sant GregoriGironèsSeptember 24, 2012[41]
28Els Prats de ReiAnoiaSeptember 24, 2012[42]
29Sant Julià de VilatortaOsonaSeptember 25, 2012[43]
30RipollRipollèsSeptember 25, 2012[44]
31ManlleuOsonaSeptember 25, 2012[43]
32VidreresSelvaSeptember 25, 2012[45]
33IgualadaAnoiaSeptember 25, 2012[46]
34Sarrià de TerGironèsSeptember 25, 2012[47]
35El PerellóBaix EbreSeptember 25, 2012[48]
36Vilafranca del PenedèsAlt PenedèsSeptember 25, 2012[49]
37Sant Julià de RamisGironèsSeptember 25, 2012[50]
38Canet d'AdriGironèsSeptember 25, 2012[51]
39DeltebreBaix EbreSeptember 26, 2012[52]
40TonaOsonaSeptember 26, 2012[53]
41Prats de LluçanèsOsonaSeptember 26, 2012[53]
42La GarrigaVallès OrientalSeptember 26, 2012[54]
43L'Ametlla del VallèsVallès OrientalSeptember 26, 2012[55]
44PorqueresPla de l'EstanySeptember 26, 2012[56]
45Sant Vicenç de TorellóOsonaSeptember 26, 2012[53]
46MontblancConca de BarberàSeptember 26, 2012[57]
47Esterri d'ÀneuPallars SobiràSeptember 26, 2012[58]
48Arenys de MarMaresmeSeptember 26, 2012[59]
49ArgençolaAnoiaSeptember 26, 2012[60]
50La Vall d'en BasGarrotxaSeptember 26, 2012[61]
51AlcarràsSegriàSeptember 27, 2012[62]
52Les Borges del CampBaix CampSeptember 27, 2012[63]
53JorbaAnoiaSeptember 27, 2012[63]
54Fornells de la SelvaGironèsSeptember 27, 2012[63]
55LinyolaPla d'UrgellSeptember 27, 2012[64]
56Sant Antoni de VilamajorVallès OrientalSeptember 27, 2012[65]
57Sant Martí de TousAnoiaSeptember 27, 2012[66]
58AlellaMaresmeSeptember 27, 2012[67]
59Cassà de la SelvaGironèsSeptember 27, 2012[68]
60Palau-solità i PlegamansVallès OccidentalSeptember 27, 2012[69]
61Canet de MarMaresmeSeptember 27, 2012[70]
62CollsuspinaOsonaSeptember 27, 2012[71]
63Sant Esteve de PalautorderaVallès OrientalSeptember 27, 2012[72]
64CardedeuVallès OrientalSeptember 27, 2012[66]
65Els Hostalets de PierolaAnoiaSeptember 27, 2012[66]
66BellvísPla d'UrgellSeptember 27, 2012[64]
67Puig-reigBerguedàSeptember 27, 2012[66]
68Santa Eugènia de BergaOsonaSeptember 27, 2012[71]
69BalaguerNogueraSeptember 27, 2012[64]
70CasserresBerguedàSeptember 27, 2012[66]
71Torrelles de LlobregatBaix LlobregatSeptember 27, 2012[66]
72Sant CeloniVallès OrientalSeptember 27, 2012[66]
73Les Borges BlanquesGarriguesSeptember 27, 2012[73]
74MontgaiNogueraSeptember 27, 2012[74]
75Castelló d'EmpúriesAlt EmpordàSeptember 27, 2012[75]
76Móra d'EbreRibera d'EbreSeptember 27, 2012[76]
77FlaçàGironèsSeptember 27, 2012[66]
78Les Franqueses del VallèsVallès OrientalSeptember 27, 2012[66]
79FontcobertaPla de l'EstanySeptember 27, 2012[77]
80Santa Eulàlia de RonçanaVallès OrientalSeptember 27, 2012[78]
81Vilassar de DaltMaresmeSeptember 27, 2012[79]
82ArsèguelAlt UrgellSeptember 27, 2012[80]
83Bigues i RiellsVallès OrientalSeptember 27, 2012[81]
84L'Ametlla de MarBaix EbreSeptember 28, 2012[82]
85Sant Martí SarrocaAlt PenedèsSeptember 28, 2012[83]
86Sant Joan de les AbadessesRipollèsSeptember 28, 2012[84]
87EspinelvesOsonaSeptember 28, 2012[85]
88LlanarsRipollèsSeptember 28, 2012[86]
89GallifaVallès OccidentalSeptember 28, 2012[87]
90AltafullaTarragonèsSeptember 29, 2012[88]
91ArbúciesSelvaSeptember 29, 2012[89]
92Corbera de LlobregatBaix LlobregatOctober 2, 2012[90]
93Les PilesConca de BarberàOctober 2012[90][citation needed]
94LlançàAlt EmpordàOctober 3, 2012[91]
95CercsBerguedàOctober 3, 2012[92]
96Isona i Conca DellàPallars JussàOctober 3, 2012[citation needed]
97VilamaniscleAlt EmpordàOctober 3, 2012[93]
98CalellaMaresmeOctober 4, 2012[94]
99ViladamatAlt EmpordàOctober 4, 2012[95]
100ArnesTerra AltaOctober 4, 2012[96][97]
101ArbolíBaix CampOctober 2012[citation needed]
102Santa BàrbaraMontsiàOctober 5, 2012[98]
103La Seu d'UrgellAlt UrgellOctober 8, 2012[97][99]
104PuigcerdàCerdanyaOctober 8, 2012[97][99]
105Vilanova i la GeltrúGarrafOctober 8, 2012[97][100]
106HostalricSelvaOctober 8, 2012[97][99]
107SallentBagesOctober 8, 2012[97]
108LladóAlt EmpordàOctober 8, 2012[101]
109Castellfollit de la RocaGarrotxaOctober 9, 2012[102]
110MiravetRibera d'EbreOctober 9, 2012[103]
111OlostOsonaOctober 9, 2012[104]
112Sant Hilari SacalmSelvaOctober 10, 2012[105]
113ArtésBagesOctober 10, 2012[106]
114AlpensOsonaOctober 10, 2012[107]
115Torroella de MontgríBaix EmpordàOctober 11, 2012[108]
116Ivars d'UrgellPla d'UrgellOctober 11, 2012[109]
117TaradellOsonaOctober 11, 2012[110]
118CerveraSegarraOctober 11, 2012[111]
119Santa Coloma de QueraltConca de BarberàOctober 11, 2012[citation needed]
120Sant Pere de VilamajorVallès OrientalOctober 12, 2012[112]
121PradesBaix CampOctober 12, 2012[citation needed]
122AviàBerguedàOctober 12, 2012[citation needed]
123El BrullOsonaOctober 15, 2012[citation needed]
124BredaSelvaOctober 15, 2012[113]
125Roda de TerOsonaOctober 16, 2012[114]
No. Comarcal Council Province Declaration Date References
1Garrotxa's Comarcal CouncilGironaOctober 11, 2012[8]

See also

References

External links

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