Scottish Referendum through the eyes of a “local foreigner” I

I am a foreigner living in Scotland. Well, to say the truth I’m not totally a foreigner: I am an EU citizen and the UK is in the EU, so I’m a citizen of this greater union I live in. Because of that I’m given the right to vote in the referendum.

And here I find two different opinions among the other “foreigners / not so foreigners” on this respect. On the one hand there are many who say they will not vote because this is a matter that concerns only the nationals. There are many others who see voting in the referendum as part of the duties towards the country they live in. I am much inclined to agree with the later ones.

There are many reasons why the treaties of the EU established EU citizenship and a right of all citizens to vote for some elections in the other member states. If there is freedom of citizens to establish themselves in other countries (and therein pay taxes), it is only fair that they should be able to hold local politicians accountable for their decisions. Besides, it is considered that the future of the territories they live in is also of their concern.

I add another one. This is a less political or practical reason and more emotional one. We, foreigners, may very well love the country in which we establish ourselves and to want the best for it. For this reason, we may want to share the responsibility with the nationals for important political decisions.

For these reasons, I chose to vote in the UK for the EU elections. With this, I lost the right to vote in the same elections in my own state of nationality. For the same reasons I will vote in the referendum on the 18^th of September. And I will vote with the best interests of this country at heart… Just as any national should.