Catalonia's nearby regions, the Basque country, and Galicia in the Northwest of Spain also have self-governance mandates under the Spanish Constitution of 1978.
Despite differing opinions on the matter their right to self-determination is protected by the constitution and the government has said they have the right to live this way.
The Spanish government in Madrid vows to block any self-determination referendum, arguing that the constitution does not permit a region alone to decide its independence.
Mr Aznar may now try to set up a rival front of parties in the Basque country, made up of his own conservative People's Party and the Socialists, who both want to keep Spain's existing constitution, with its strong measure of regional self-government but with no option for independence.
But it is also about the US constitution, and whether the second amendment is about allowing Americans to own guns for self-defence or simply to form part of a militia.
After outlining the principles contained in the South African constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression and the restrictive definition of its limits, Thloloe described the system of self-regulation of the press in force in his country.