Leaders consider changing law to grant Catalonia more autonomy

When Congress met yesterday, the most important event was not the outcome of a vote that everyone could guess ahead of time anyway, but what was said. Artur Mas disappointed the crowd by not showing up after having lobbied for Catalonia's independence via a petition that would not have been viable by Spanish law.

This was a pretty cowardly move. Still, the ruling and opposing parties came together well to propose a solid alternative solution. Rajoy and Rubalcaba both seem ready to modify the Constitution in a way that responds to Catalonia's request for increased self-governance. Now that the taboo has been broken, there is a chance that Spain could alter its law in a way that gives Catalonia the autonomy it wants without forcing both parties and the rest of Europe to endure a formal secession.