Thousands of ordinary citizens making a human chain across Catalonia this wednesday-Catalan national day-will be intended to show world opinion that the cause of independence is hurtling towards fruition.
A great photopportunity it will certainly be, and one that will once again serve as a reminder that the unity of Spain-constitutionally defined as a nation state made up of autonomous regions under a King-remains a controversial concept in need of reform.
But a mass demonstration, whichever form it takes, does not represent a democratic mandate. The party that wants an independent Catalonia has a minority of the electorate, while its majority partner in the Catalan government is torn between those who favour a split from Spain and those who would like a negotiated settlement-more autonomy but short of independence. A few days ago, it emerged that the Catalan president Arturo Mas had secretly met Spanish prime-minister Mariano Rajoy and agreed to go on talking.
The talk so far is that Mas would only go ahead with a referendum on Catalan independence if this was done within the law. He wants to get a deal from Rajoy that would avert a referendum in the short term.The more radical Catalan nationalists want to go ahead with the referendum next year, without or without Madrid’s consent. But they are in a minority.
There has been a phoney war going on between Barcelona and Madrid-more bluff than bluster- and an appalling absence of objective journalism and debate in the Catalan , and some of the Spanish media. Neither Rajoy nor Mas are proven statesmen and in Catalonia those campaigning for independence have lost all sense of reason which makes the situation unstable and unpredictable.
Beyond wednesday, there is a need for constructive dialogue and sensible debate. A federal Spain in which Catalonia feels it is fairly treated is something worth working towards.
Dear Jimmy,
after this ‘in Catalonia those campaigning for independence have lost all sense of reason which makes the situation unstable and unpredictable’, you do not need to look away searching for sense, since you do not make any.
Furthermore, neither Spaniards nor Catalans wish for a federal state.
While in Sitges, please give a chance to your eyes and hears to be presented with the astonishing number of reasons for Catalans to peacefully grow out of Spain.
Kind regards.
Miqui Melero.
Thanks Miqui Melero, I completely agree and feel sorry
for Jimmy that in spite of spending much time between us, still doesn’t show any sensibility for the sens of the catalan cause!
The images of the Diada today reminds me of Northern Ireland where the Orange Men march to celebrate the Battle of the Boyne, and if you never heard of it, it took place back in 1690. The Barcelona siege ended in 1714. Yes, we are talking 300 years ago…
I had wanted to believe that societies move on, evolve. Celebrating battles that took place 300 years strikes me as rather odd, well in truth, rather pathetic. But then again war is about tribes, and observing what happened recently in the former Yugoslavia, what is tearing Syria apart at the present, depresses me. Europe and the Med basin seems not to have evolved, nationalism is alive and kicking, and that’s after tearing the continent apart last century in two world wars.
Will societies one day, look forward, and not back? Forget the differences and try not to promote where you come form, that you are better than your neighbour? How about reserving ones energy to resolve genuine human predicaments?
But then again, nothing like a bit of flag waving to take your eyes off what really matters…
The catalans need to recognise that with an independent state they have their own national football league, football federation etc, which will put them at the bottom of the pile in the UEFA co efficients.
That would put C de FB in a difficult position, cripple its TV income etc etc .
It will be interesting to see how that circle is squared.
I agree Martyn, I think the Barcelona FC issue could swing a “No” vote, if it ever came to a ballot. Can you imagine Barça playing the likes of Manresa, Girona, Sabadel, week in, week out… ?!
Don’t believe that Barça will be given a “special” entry into La Liga or Ligue 1, like Monaco across the border. If you have been following the French football scene, all the clubs in Ligue 1 are in revolt as Monaco has privileges which give them an unfair advantage over all other French clubs. Given the massive advantages bestowed on Barça FC via the Generalitat, La Caixa etc., I believe with a “Yes” vote, Barcelona will be adrift in the back waters of Europe, and slowly sink.
I think you can take your point even further: would La Liga survive as a force without the Real Madrid v Barça “Clasico”? It is the very tension and rivalry that makes La Liga great, and makes these 2 clubs giants in Europe! Without it, life would be very flat for football followers in the Peninsular, and one could also say, dull for the Spanish in general as nothing like provincial frictions to make life more interesting & fun!
Captain Terry so you don’t support the Remembrance Day?