Spain is different to the Uk, The English don't have a parliament and rule only by dint of a larger population, whereas the Castilian oligarchy rules supreme in Spain, the Catalans are not Castilians, they have their own language, politics and culture, so why shouldn't they stand on their own if they want to? It appears as though the spirit of Franco is still extant. Nobody complained when Scandinavia split up, nor the Czechs and Slovaks. If there is any democracy it should allow for annexed countries to liberate themselves. The days of Empire whether internal or external are over, or should be.