The Demand for Unilateral Secession in Catalonia: While the Cause is Compelling, Secession Would Not Be Legal Under International Law

Tensions between Catalonia and Spain have finally boiled over, leading to Catalonia’s decision to unilaterally secede from Spain. On October 1, 2017, an overwhelming 90% of voters chose to leave Spain in a referendum held by the Catalonian parliament. On October 10, 2017, Carles Puigdemont, President of Catalonia, gave a speech claiming that “with the results of the referendum on October first, Catalonia has earned the right to be an independent state.” The issue has now become whether Catalonia has the right, under international law, to maintain their unilateral secession from Spain in order to form their own independent nation. This confrontation between Spain and Catalonia will force another international discussion on which situations may allow one part of a larger state to secede and become a new state