@Walter Hinteler,
Opinion in the NYT by Javier Cercas, the author of "The Soldiers of Salamis" and the forthcoming novel "The Impostor":
Who’s a Spaniard These Days?Quote:[...]
Catalonia’s separatism is not only Spain’s problem but also the European Union’s: It represents the continuity of a project that despite being portrayed as pro-European aims to destabilize Europe. This is the most dangerous consequence of the populist nationalism that brought forth Donald Trump and Brexit. This is what’s at stake with the vote on Thursday.
Is there any solution to the Catalan problem? In the short term, it depends on the election results. I’m not optimistic. It’s difficult to imagine that enough Catalans will stop believing the tons of lies that were fabricated with public funds and spread by the pro-independence cause.
In the longer term, however, things may change. Perhaps the solution could come from a constitutional reform so that Spain becomes a fully federal country, better suited to be part of a federal Europe. But that’s not enough. There needs to be a setting out of the conditions under which Catalonia could have a legal referendum on independence, similar to Canada’s Clarity Act (enacted in response to secessionist sentiment in Quebec). Of course, in a federal Europe, this law should be European, not only Spanish.
I was born in 1962 in Extremadura, in southern Spain, but when I was 4 my family settled in Catalonia. I am, therefore, an ordinary Catalan. The Catalonia of the 20th century was built by an enormous flow of people from the poorest areas of the south who emigrated to the richer north. At home we speak Catalan and Spanish, as in many other Catalan homes. I don’t feel particularly Catalan or Spanish. Or maybe I feel I’m both.
Though passions and emotions run high in the debate over Catalonia, for me, it’s just a political issue: I just don’t want to live in a place where those who rule violate the laws in the most blatant way, in the name of democracy and a supposedly oppressed homeland. The Catalan government chose the path of independence for power and glory, just as the country was finally overcoming the economic crisis, without considering the harm it could cause to its citizens.
I like the idea of belonging to the European Union, something impossible for a hypothetically independent Catalonia, as European officials have explained over and over again. It’s only natural: Europe’s union, built as a fortress against the nationalism that ruined the Continent in the 20th century, has brought us the most peaceful and prosperous era in modern history.
The European Union is the only thing that can guarantee democracy’s survival in Spain because, as the philosopher Jürgen Habermas said, national democracies cannot even defend themselves against the furious ultimatums of capitalism that spreads beyond national borders. Despite its countless defects, a united Europe is, at least for a leftist Europeanist like me, the only reasonable utopia. That is what, ultimately, being Spanish means to me: a peculiar way of being European.
@Walter Hinteler,
On Thursday (tomorrow), Catalonia holds the early election called by the Madrid government after it cut short the most serious bid for Catalan independence yet, temporarily rolling back devolution.
Latest opinion polls suggest the three separatist parties would fall just short of an overall majority in the 135-seat Catalan parliament.
@Walter Hinteler,
In the parliamentary elections in Catalonia, the voters queued up early on. Although fewer votes were cast by midday than at the same time in 2015, record turnout is expected.
@Walter Hinteler,
Catalan TV stations are not joining forces to produce an exit poll for this election partly because of the cost, and partly because the last time they did one – in 2015 – it turned out to be wildly inaccurate.
@Walter Hinteler,
According to just released (telephone) forecasts, the unionist Ciutadans party could be the largest in the regional parliament, but the three main pro-independence parties could wind up with a narrow majority.
It is not an exit poll so should be treated with caution!
@Walter Hinteler,
Carles Puigdemont offered to meet the Spanish prime minister anywhere but in Spain.
Speaking Friday to reporters in Brussels, he said such a meeting could not take place in Spain "for obvious reasons", as he faces arrest on possible charges of sedition, rebellion and misuse of public funds if he returns there.
@Walter Hinteler,
La Vanguardia has published an interactive map of the Catalan Regional Election, showing the winner in each municipality. The colour of each municipality on the map indicates the party with the most votes:
>link to map<
NB: the map shows the results by municipal area rather than by electoral area.
@Walter Hinteler,
Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy has said he is willing to talk with Catalonia's new government after an electoral upset by separatists. Whether he is willing to meet with Puigdemont is less clear.
I drop off to tell you an anecdote.
The World Editor in the newspaper is a Spaniard, from Andalusia, pro PSOE (and, thus, "constitutionalist").
Another member or our World staff , a junior editor, is also a Spaniard, but would rather be Catalonian, he's a hard leftist and independentist.
They discuss endlessly about Catalonian politics.
Christmas is coming, so half of the staff rests the week 20-26 december and the other half rests 27 dec- jan 2.
The Senior editor decided to rest the first week, and let the junior in charge of the edition during those days.
This was set before the Catalonian electoral day was set.
As the electoral results came by, I got a little weary about what the firy young Catalonian would do. But, alas!, the Andalusian Senior Editor suspended his rest day, came to work with his junior, and we could come out a balanced version.
The Andalusian was not to let the Catalonian have his way.
@fbaezer,
I'm watching live just now Spain vs Catalonia
With South American support, Catalonia wins
@Walter Hinteler,
Was always going to be difficult for Spain with Puigdemont only willing to engage outside the Spanish penalty area.
@lmur,
The third and final goal for Barca was by Vidal, another South American, btw.
@lmur,
Indeed, he wants to speak with them only on an European auxiliary stadium.
@Walter Hinteler,
Pep Guardiola, manager of the Blues, is born in Santpedor, in the comarca of Bages, central Catalonia. He shows his support (not only!!!) today as well
@Walter Hinteler,
And those two colleagues, when they're not discussing politics, they discuss football.
You already know who roots for what team.
@fbaezer,
fbaezer wrote:And those two colleagues, when they're not discussing politics, they discuss football.
Football is a more serious business than politics - you certainly remember the Football War between El Salvador and Honduras.
@Walter Hinteler,
Football is a serious matter.
Walter, you just reminded me of something horrible.
No, not the war between El Salvador and Honduras.
Something worse.
Much worse.
A tragedy.
Mexico gets to face the Mannschaft in Russia.
