MADRID
The Catalan government’s approval of a ‘Morocco Plan’ has led to claims that the regional authority is attempting to win Moroccan migrants’ votes in the forthcoming independence poll.
The three-year plan would approve the teaching of Arabic and Berber languages in schools, as well as strengthening ties between the region and the North African state.
The Madrid-based El Mundo newspaper reported the regional government launched the Morocco Plan 2014-2017 to win over Morocco and the 270,000 Moroccan migrants in Catalonia, who form three percent of the region’s population.
Morocco is reportedly opposed to the November 9 independence vote for Catalonia because of concerns about separatist sentiment in Western Sahara.
El Mundo said the Catalan authority was allowing the migrants to vote despite failing to agree the terms of the referendum with the Spanish government.
The newspaper claimed offering the classes to 24,000 students of Moroccan heritage would “draw Moroccans to the ballot boxes.” A bill likely to be passed by the regional parliament on Friday will allow “most” migrants to vote, the paper added.
Catalonia is Spain’s richest region and its 7.5 million people account for 16 percent of the Spanish population.
The proposed referendum will ask voters in Catalonia if they want the region to become independent.
Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has twice rejected the possiblity of an independence referendum in Catalonia.
Barcelona and Madrid are closely watching the independence referendum in Scotland, seen by many as a forerunner for other possible breakaway attempts in countries like Spain, Belgium and Italy.
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