The autonomous region of Catalonia made a new push for independence when its president, Artur Mas, called for a referendum on Nov. 25 to start "a process of auto-determination." His announcement came two weeks after an estimated 1.5 million Catalans held a pro-independence march in Barcelona and days after the central government rejected Catalonia's request for a bailout of 5 billion euros. Spain's economic crisis has heightened separatist sentiment in the country's wealthiest yet most indebted region. Catalans believe that the taxes they have been paying to Madrid have been mismanaged and that the bailout they requested is money that should be returned to their region. Meanwhile, anti-austerity protests rocked the Spanish capital yet again, as demonstrators marched on the country's parliament building and confronted police, leading to at least 64 people being injured.
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"Spain." Time. 08 Oct 2012: 14. Print.
