How did Catalonia’s desire for separatism reach such a crisis point in what is now a relatively mature democracy? It all seemed sorted back in 2006 when a Statute of Autonomy agreed by the Catalan and Spanish Governments seemed to solve the tensions. Unfortunately, the People’s Party (now led by Mariano Rajoy, the current Spanish Prime Minister) challenged the Statute in Madrid’s Constitutional Court and it was largely over-turned leading to the current crisis.
In recent weeks it has all gone downhill, culminating in an illegal referendum on 1 October. 90% of only 43% of voters who turned out supported independence; but this was less an issue than the heavy handed response of the national police who on the instructions of Madrid tried to head off the vote, closing ballot booths, dragging voters by their hair along the streets and generally inciting violence. These were shocking scenes which are wholly unacceptable in a western democracy.
The EU was uncommonly quiet on the issue and hypocritical in comparison to their response to anti-democratic events in Eastern Europe but the reason for this is obvious. They don’t want momentum to build in favour of a fragmented Europe where there are other regions wanting self-determination. The EU was hardly sympathetic to Scottish independence. But this is not the point. Principles of democracy and criticism of unacceptable behaviour by authorities should be applied with equal vigour across all of the EU, not selectively.
So what is the solution? First, it is unclear whether there is even a majority of support for full independence in Catalonia. Opinion polls across all voters in the region seem to suggest not. Second, in an uncertain, volatile world where larger power blocs dominate and economies of scale from globalisation (whatever Trump says) count, this is not a time for regional fragmentation (the same of course applies to Scotland and even the UK…).
Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan President, calls the referendum a sufficient mandate for succession but shows signs of compromise in part probably driven by the reaction of businesses who are moving/threatening to move activities out of the region. Rajoy has not reciprocated. He is an unpleasant Prime Minister who has taken a constantly aggressive, provocative approach to this issue.
There is a need to compromise, however unfashionable this concept is nowadays. In such a troubled world this issue should not have been allowed to escalate so far. Rajoy should stop bullying from his Madrid pulpit and re-visit the 2006 Statute and the EU should put pressure where it is needed. Catalonia and the rest of Spain should move on. It is the least of the region’s problems, let alone what is happening in other continents.
Inside Right Politics 