Two Years After Push for Independence, Catalonia Wavers

Separatist groups in Spain's autonomous region of Catalonia are preparing for two months of intense political activity ahead of a Nov. 9 referendum on Catalan independence. On Sept. 11, these groups will gather in Barcelona to celebrate the National Day of Catalonia, known as "Diada," with pro-independence demonstrations expected to be the largest since the current separatist movement began in 2012. Participants will likely number in the hundreds of thousands and popular support will be at a high. Catalonia's government, however, is unlikely to unilaterally declare independence this year, and even the status of the scheduled referendum itself is still in doubt, with the central government in Madrid arguing that holding the vote would be illegal.