MOSCOW, September 11 (RIA Novosti) – Differences in the countries' legislations will hardly allow for an upcoming referendum in Scotland to serve as an example for Catalonia, which also wants to claim independence from Spain, member of Spanish People's Party Juan Milian told RIA Novosti on Thursday.
"The legal processes vary significantly in Scotland and in Catalonia. The United Kingdom does not have a constitution, so British parliament can allow Scots to hold a referendum, as well as revoke its autonomy, as happened in Northern Ireland. The Spanish system does not allow holding a similar referendum in Catalonia," Milian said.
Milian also fears that the Scottish referendum may lead to instability and confrontations across the European Union.
"Cultural communities wishing to become independent states can claim to hold similar referendums. But the Scottish model is not going to contribute to peace within the European Union. This is true not only for Spain's Galicia, the Basque Country and Catalonia, but also for other countries, such as Germany, Italy and France," Milian claimed.
"If Scottish independence supporters win, many will consider this experience as an invitation to follow their example. This will endanger stability in many countries, and in the entire European Union," he added.
The Referendum in Catalonia will be held on November 9, and the voters will have to answer two different questions, while Scots will have to answer only one question during the vote. Milian thinks that the question, which Scots will face, is clearer and better formulated.
"The questions are very different. In Scotland it sounds as follows, "Should Scotland be an independent country?" While in Catalonia there will be two questions, "Do you want Catalonia to become a State?" and "In case of an affirmative response, do you want this State to be independent?" So there is a lot of controversy. What do they mean by a "State" without the word "independent"? Lands, like in Germany? Or States, like in the US and in Mexico? Even Mexico, although it is a federal republic, is much more centralized than Spain," Milan explained.
The long-standing issue of the Scottish independence is to be settled by a referendum scheduled for September 18.
If the majority of Scots vote for independence during the upcoming referendum, then on March 24, 2016 Scotland will secede from the United Kingdom.
