Catalonia speaks to the world to force Madrid to hear
"Instead we are discussing the future, we are still discussing whether we can vote. Our only chance is to convince the international community to pressure Madrid ", the journalist vents Òscar Palau. Monday, the Faculty of Law, Lisbon (at 16h), debate is the Catalan political process.
Is there anything that is going to happen.
Since forever, say some, for others not so much, there is a historical
nationalism but were attacks on the autonomy and the humiliations of the
last ten 15 years have increased the sovereignist sentiment. Anything going to happen, anyway, anything will even happen, you hear say these days in Catalonia.
In December, nearly two-thirds of the Catalan Parliament agreed to hold a referendum on independence.
There is a question, which actually are two: "You wanna that Catalonia
is a State" "If yes, whether that Catalonia is an independent state"
There is a date, November 9, 2014.
And a determination of politicians who say they unwavering to have been
born on the streets, the people who have organized themselves to vote
in symbolic referendum and for manifesting in huge marches.
Over 80% of Catalans want to vote on their future, indicate different polls conducted in recent months. And that tells us the president of the regional government, Artur Mas, means that this query will even happen. In one way or another.
"The referendum is unconstitutional and will not accomplish." Thus
reacted Prime Minister of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, the announcement date
and the question.
"While I am President of the Government, nor any illegal referendum be
held, nor will break Spain," he repeated, last month during a meeting of
the Popular Party in Barcelona.
The campaign Rajoy and the rest of the leadership of the PP are "no,"
replied Artur Mas, makes you think that the party accepted "fact"
consultation. Not accepted, and Artur Mas knows it better than anyone.
Catalonia is decided, Madrid refuse to see. It remains to Catalonia speak to the world and expect the world to listen to oblige Madrid.
"Catalonia Calling - What the world has to know"
(What the world needs to know), reads the first page of a book, part of
a campaign of the same name organized by the magazine story sapiens in
Barcelona collaboration with the Catalan National Association (NCA).
Each copy - 15,000 were sent "to influential people in all parts of the
world" - follows with a letter that explains that it is a gift of a
Catalan. What the Journal received 2 happened to be offered by Cristina Escolano Galofré, one of 15,000 people who participated in a crowdfunding campaign.
Contributions of Catalan public, such as those associated in their
neighborhoods and their cities to give birth to the ANC, the association
behind the events of the last two years Diada, September 11, when it
marks the defeat of Catalonia in the War Succession. One day it used to be marked by a few thousand and in 2012 joined more than a million in Barcelona. Last year, 1.6 million participated in a human chain across Catalonia.
300 years of an impossible relationship
It was 300 years ago and the date appears in the titles featured in the book sapiens. "1714: The conflict that ended with the loss of freedoms of Catalonia", is one of them. "Catalonia and Spain - 300 years of an impossible relationship," is another. The
Catalans like to say that the current process is more about the future
than about the past, but the past matters to understand how we arrived
here. Until
1714, different kingdoms coexisted: the kingdom of Catalonia and Aragon
worked the Catalan Courts (embryo of the Catalan Parliament) which
shared power with the king. Caught
in the battle for the Spanish crown, Barcelona was subjected to a long
siege and shelling first by the forces of Charles of Austria, after the
Franco-Spanish armies. The
fall of Barcelona and the end of the war marked the final integration
in the Spanish state of Catalonia and the beginning of a centralized
kingdom.
The fact that the Catalans have made this date your national holiday
come to realize that this is not a well settled relationship.
View of Catalonia, is like a marriage where one party did what he could
to find a place for themselves without giving the couple and the other
party never gave him space. Now, it may be too late.
Until recently, Artur Mas, president of the regional government, advocated closer to Catalonia in Spain autonomy.
Traditionally, this was the position of his party, Convergence, and
coalition CiU (Convergence more Democratic Union of Catalonia,
nationalist right) that presents the votes. Artur Mas changed his mind.
"Yes and yes, my personal belief is that as an individual," says the
Catalan president in a joint interview to journalists from seven
European countries. Today, Artur Mas respond twice "yes" in the referendum that says it will do. "That is my conviction. My responsibility as president is to organize a query and manage this process in the best way. "
"I think it is the natural future of an ancient nation that kept their
culture and language through the centuries, which was able to integrate
millions of people who come from other parts of Spain and other parts of
the world, a nation that held until Today the collective will to act as
a nation. This is a nation. Nation means a defined territory, we have a culture of their own, we have a specific language, "says Artur Mas.
A nation has a capital and a government, the Generalitat, in whose office the Catalan leader receives journalists.
In one of the rooms of this palace in the middle of the Gothic Quarter
of Barcelona, found these days, there is a picture on the wall that
remains where it always was, but since a year left to see, was covered
by a curtain: the portrait of King of Spain, Juan Carlos.
What do we do on November 9?
Nation is a word that occupies a large part of this debate. In
the Spanish Constitution, the transition from Francoism to democracy in
place today, it is written that in Spain there are no nationalities and
regions. "Tell nationalities, because they feared the word nations, invented this term. The solution they found was that difficult period, three years after Franco's death, three years before the coup of 1981. In those historical conditions that the Constitution was adopted. Called to Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia nationalities and regions to the rest of the territories. But it is difficult to have a nationality without a nation, "says Artur Mas.
Legality is another persistent word. Madrid insists that the referendum that most Catalans do not want parties may be because it is illegal. Contrary to the Constitution, which defines the unit of Spain, and the Constitution does not move. Artur Mas also speaks of legality often. Lists the "five legal possibilities" identified to perform the desired query.
The first four depend on negotiations with the central government: the
16th of January, the Catalan Parliament has advanced one, to adopt a
resolution asking the Congress, the national parliament, to transfer to
you the legitimacy to organize the referendum.
"There is a will of the Catalan Parliament in dealing with Spanish
institutions, in establishing a dialogue and negotiation, to do
everything within the law and according to Madrid," insists Artur Mas. "The Spanish Parliament has agreed to receive our resolution and we will have an answer in a few months. In theory, I should say that I do not know what will be the answer, but I assume that it will be negative.
When I have private conversations with President Rajoy, the answer is
always that there is no possibility that this power is transferred. It is possible, the legal point of view, but there is no political will to do so, "says Artur Mas. "So the question is what do we do on the 9th of November", launches the president, without coming to give a conclusive answer.
The next step will be given again in the regional parliament. There they will pass a law that will give regional authorities the ability to organize consultations, not a binding referendum. "From a political standpoint, is the same," says Artur Mas. "What will happen, for sure, in the coming months, will I ask this particular query happens on the 9th of November."
"I want respect '
The problem is that Artur Mas also already know what will happen next. "The
Spanish Government can support this query as a Catalan matter, or
decide to appeal to the Constitutional Court, asking that this
particular law of the Catalan parliament is revoked or suspended," he
explains. No one doubts that this is what will happen. After
all, if Catalonia is where it is, is due to the very day that the PP
Rajoy has decided to submit in 2006 an appeal to the Constitutional
Court against the Statute of Autonomy (90% of the Catalan Parliament
approved). The
document, which however had been approved by referendum in Catalonia
and was already in force, the Constitutional came out very weak, which
decreased number of powers that the Generalitat had assigned to itself. The
PP did not just appeal to the courts, has also launched a national
campaign to collect signatures for a referendum against the Statute. Many Catalans felt outraged. "I want respect. And I'm not respected by Madrid, "says Òscar Palau, editor of the nationalist newspaper El Punt Avui.
"The PP is calculating that will not win even one vote in Catalonia for
the European elections [end of May] and knows that attacking Catalonia
will win votes in other parts of Spain. It is pure electoral strategy, "says Xavier But Xaxás, journalist Catalan daily La Vanguardia, the only newspapers in the region that calls for consultation or independence.
Equal opportunities
It's an old story, the Spanish nationalism and Catalan nationalism feed off one another. "If
you told me five years ago that today would be here at this time of
mobilization, I would not believe," said Monserrat Radigales,
international correspondent for the newspaper El Periódico. Radigales
speaks of a series of laws that this government has made to adopt
towards the strengthening of centralization and the attack on the
autonomy. "Interpretation
of the Constitution has been very regressive and hence this feeling of
frustration that increased the independence sentiment." To Carme
Colomina, editor of the Catalan newspaper Ara, "the debate is not between independence and the status quo." "The status quo is dropping, the government is strong and will get us more rights."
There is talk of money in this debate and the power to manage from
Barcelona greater part of the taxes of the Catalans, but also speaks of
autonomy to manage the region's universities, the airport of Barcelona,
the high-speed trains to Madrid insists on passing through the capital
or issue that the Catalans are more sensitive to language.
The central government wants to put an end to the "immersion" schools
went into effect system - all classes are in Catalan, Castilian less
teaching, based on the idea that Spanish is more present, on television
or in the movies, and that it guarantees equal opportunities for all
students, whether at home if not speak Catalan.
"When compulsory education ends, students are competent in Spanish and
Catalan, and Castilian level is not lower than that of students from
other regions.
It is a system that has been repeatedly praised, that works for 30
years without being questioned, "says Radigales, citing studies of
UNESCO.
"My children speak Spanish as well as speak Catalan, English and
German," says the German Krystyna Shreiber, mother of three children, 12
years ago to live in Barcelona. Shreiber integrates the Catalan National Assembly and is not the only foreigner in the independence movement. "It is a democratic and necessary move," said the German, before speaking of a "more inclusive Catalonia".
Give examples such as the Prestige spill in Galicia in 2002, the PP was
in power: "There were no consequences and were the Catalans and other
volunteers who were there to clean."
Nationalism and populism
The Catalan nationalism is not ethnic, or could be. Catalonia
has 7.5 million inhabitants, but just look at the nicknames to realize
that most have at least one parent originating from elsewhere in Spain. At
a dinner with journalists or a lunch with representatives of
parliamentary groups, the exercise is repeated and the conclusion is the
same. "I do not know how we did, but people always have integrated," says Salvador Garcia-Ruiz, chairman of the board of directors of Ara with Andalusian mother.
"There are 80% who say they want to vote and nearly 70% are not
Catalans in ethnic terms," notes Oriol Pujol, secretary general of the
Convergence and son of the historical Catalan leader, former president
of the region, Jordi Pujol.
"I too am Catalan, I represent hundreds of thousands of Catalans and I
am against the referendum," answers Juan Milián, Mr PP Catalan. "Maybe there's a social majority which wants a referendum, but we all have to respect the laws. If you can do a referendum, in a legal way, then all Spaniards should be able to vote. "
Pujol and Milián are sitting at the table with representatives of the
Republican Left (ERC), Initiative Catalonia Greens (ICV), Citizens, Jobs
Popular Unity (CUP, independence leftist who entered the Catalan
Parliament in November 2012, the first time I competed regional).
The representative of the Socialist Party of Catalonia was delayed for
both lunch that no longer participate in the conversation - PS arrived
to defend the consultation, but now investing in a constitutional
revision that open the way to what he calls "a truly federalist Spain."
There
are times where you can ask questions to representatives of the Catalan
parties, others that they forget the presence of journalists. Happens when Jordi Solé, ERC, recalls the January meeting of the PP in Barcelona. "When Rajoy came here, compared them to the ETA terrorists" he says. "That's not true, I was there," Milián fires. "They want to scare us, that's what they do," continues Solé. "The exact comparison was with the Basque Country. Some
Basques thought that violence was the best way of achieving
independence and the Catalan independence movement has always been
absolutely peaceful, "interrupts Pujol. "That is true," Milián grants.
Until now, there was only one violent incident in this dispute, when a
group of extreme right attacked the delegation of the Generalitat in
Madrid last September 11.
In parliament, the exchange of words calms soon return to fan, an
exaltation punctuated here and there by polite smiles, handshakes kind
of distance. "It is not true that the president of my party has compared the Catalan independence movement with the violence of ETA.
But the nationalist parties try to describe our speeches as against
Catalonia against the Catalans, "counteracts the deputy of the PP. Join Quim Arrufat, the CUP: "They just repeat the justifications for there is no possibility of letting people vote. And we're trying to convince those who do not know, because Madrid is not listening, that a query can not be a bad thing. "
José Maria Espejo-Saavedra, deputy Citizens (not nationalist
centrists), argues that the current nationalism is the result of
populism of politicians who have blamed Spain for the crisis.
"If we understand this desire to hold a consultation on the
independence of populism as a result, a result of the crisis, then tell
us we have to wait to see if it's this or something else. But that's not what they tell us, there is no expectation that the query can be made. Hope that in ten years it disappears?
All persons who have participated in the demonstrations, at least half
of every poll voters who say they are in favor of independence ... This
is going to disappear, "asks Arrufat. "Public opinion moves. Five, ten years, the general opinion may be different, "says Espejo-Saavedra. "You wish," hears from different points of the table.
A debate about the money
On
the streets, many with independence flags to the windows, and the
parliamentary party, part of this debate it is indeed around money,
money that, according to Barcelona, Madrid is due to the region every
year. It
is the gap between taxes collected in Catalonia and the money that the
central government returns and that the accounts of the Generalitat,
equivalent to 8% of Catalan GDP. Whatever
the accounts are, there is always the deficit, as Madrid is
understated, because here come the spending as the Prado or the
diplomatic service, says that the capital fit to all Spanish Museum.
"This
is not a rich wanting to flee in a crisis region," Andreu Mas-Colell
guarantees, advisor (equivalent to Minister) of Economy and Knowledge. "The theme will persist. When the crisis has passed, if there was no consultation, will be a matter to be resolved. "
Miguel Puig, economist and director of a consortium of Catalan
universities, recalls that in a September poll asked if the Catalans who
said they were in favor of independence which would be offered to
Catalonia Madrid fiscal pact that would change this relationship and
Artur Mas proposed the Rajoy in 2012. "Only 5% were withdrawing independence. Although the tax issue is important, however something happened that changed everything. It is a question of money, but it is much more. "
There is one question that journalists repeated in parliament and that
MPs who are against the referendum have difficulty answering. The winning Catalonia to stay in Spain?
Milián rehearse an answer, but just stuck to his party, Right to Know,
campaign in opposition to Right to Decide, enumerating the risks of a
succession. "Now, the Catalan government can pay its suppliers to be in a state that has access to markets.
Most Catalans have family in other parts of Spain, my parents are from
Valencia, for me having a boundary between me and them would be a shock,
"Yes, and reasons to stay.? "Yes, we need to make a more positive campaign, as the British Government for the Scots, Better Together."
Borders? End of market access? Imagine
that Spain would erect walls or promote any kind of boycott of Catalan
economy "violates rationality," says Jordi Galí, economist and professor
at the University Pompeu Fabra. "Imposing tariffs on exports went? And what to do with the 70% to 80% of Spanish exports that pass through Catalonia? "Question.
"Barring Catalonia the free movement of people and goods is absolutely
impossible from the standpoint of the interests of large companies,"
says Carles Boix, professor of public policy at Princeton and a member
of the Advisory Board of the National Transitional body established to
advise the Generalitat this process. The 5100-based multinationals in Catalonia feed this belief. "They are much more powerful than Rajoy." Half of German companies operating in Spain are Catalonia, Miguel Puig recalls. "What happens on the border will not let go. Not that [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel has to phone Rajoy. "
Staying in the EU
In
December, the Generalitat sent to all the heads of government of the
European Union a letter explaining the sovereignist process. In
the text, it insists on the "democratic and peaceful" character of the
path starts and explains that, contrary to what says Madrid and has
already suggested that the European Commission president, José Manuel
Barroso, "not true" that the independence have to mean the automatic
output of Catalonia EU - because, as well as defend the Scots, who will
vote in the independence referendum on 18 September, the EU treaties do
not anticipate the scenario in which a part of a country that is already
a member becomes independent.
Barcelona insists the Catalan desire to remain in the EU and is
convinced that Brussels will eventually find a solution that allows.
"The European treaties are treaties between countries, but are also
treated people who give specific rights to individuals," says Artur Mas.
"There are articles that stipulate how a State can join the EU and
there are articles on the expulsion, can not expel a State so just
because.
And if a new state has the political will to stay if you meet all the
criteria and is a net contributor to the European budget, then I see no
reason for the expulsion. "
Madrid also sent a report to all its embassies in speaking of the
illegality of the query and displays its version of the risks of an
independent Catalonia.
Madrid did more than that. "Every time a member of the European Commission took a position that was not pleasing, Spain forced a change of that position.
The first vice-president of the Commission, for example, Viviane
Reding, said a year ago that there would be outrageous if Catalonia
leave the EU, "recalls Roger Albinyana, Secretary of Foreign and
European Affairs of the Government of Catalonia.
Or when the heads of government of Lithuania and Latvia have taken
positive positions on the Catalan case, "the government called the
ambassadors of the two countries in Madrid and the Minister [of Foreign
Affairs, José García] Margallo did a tour a week through the Baltic, the
first in the history of Spain. "
Albinyana is spearheading a drive in the Generalitat where 150 people
work, from Barcelona to New York, to "try to build networks of
communication with countries, something that can not be done formally by
[being] a region."
To Albinyana is more than natural that almost no leaders to speak
publicly about Catalonia and the official answer is that this "is an
internal affair of Spain."
But ensures that there are differences between what government leaders
say in public and in private: "In some countries there is a very big
difference. Countries that are similarities in your story with our process have more sensitivity.
I have to maintain confidentiality, but I can say that in some key
European countries there is a great concern that Madrid did not want to
negotiate. "
And it is also why this is an increasingly waged battle on the
international stage, which now Artur Mas gives interviews to foreign
journalists. And tomorrow in Lisbon, Portuguese experts, including Adriano Moreira, and Catalans will discuss The Political Process in Catalonia, a conference organized by the Faculty of Law, University of Lisbon and the Diplocat - Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia.
Barcelona will Francesc Homs, advisor of the Presidency of the
Generalitat, and Francesc Vendrell, Professor of International
Relations, former international representative in Afghanistan and deputy
head of the UN mission in East Timor during the process leading to
independence.
The future
"I spent three months in Edinburgh, there is debate the draft of an independent Scotland. We, instead we are discussing the future, we are still discussing whether or not we vote and we could not get out of it. The only possibility is to convince the international community to pressure Madrid ", the journalist vents Òscar Palau.
Then let's talk about the future. "We see independence as a tool for deep political and economic changes on the way to a more radical democracy. We do not believe that this may be possible in Spain, but can be done in Catalonia. We know the Catalan society and its values, "says Arrufat, Rep. of CUP.
Not much different from what we heard the economist Jordi Galí, who
wants a "Catalan State to give priority to the welfare of the Catalan
population" and that he believes that only "special circumstances" as
would be independence, can "bring back to politics the brightest minds. "
Murie Casals, President of Omnium Cultural, an organization that
promotes the Catalan language and culture, simply responds to what would
change in your life if Catalonia were independent. "I would be happier," she says.
"And you better have a good happy family desavindo than a neighbor."
Speaking at a "Spanish agrarian society" against an "industrial Catalan
society", always driven by the middle class, Casals says the Catalans
are more pragmatic and democratic. "Spain has the mentality of conqueror, we have a mindset of negotiators."
Artur Mas also speaks of democracy and negotiating tradition of Catalonia. "We have a parliament overwhelmingly in favor of the right to decide, and we have massive demonstrations polls that give the most independence. But I believe that we can not proclaim independence, unless we know the real majority, "he says. The referendum then. So what? "We'd go to Madrid and Brussels also negotiate. If the result of the referendum for independence, then this independence will have to be negotiated. "
Artur Mas, says its Secretary of Foreign Affairs, "knows that will not be the first president of an independent Catalonia."
"Whether it be driving the process, but believes it will emerge a new
generation of politicians that will lead to Catalonia thereafter," says
Albinyana.
But if Arthur really wants the Catalans vote for president and while
Madrid has, as expected, everything is in its power to prevent the
referendum, left him one last chance - hold elections with the
proclamation of independence as the single point the program. On 9 November or not, there is even anything to happen. "If we can not perform the query, then no later than 2016, we will have elections and these elections will be the query. We always have the answer for the Catalans. "
Article corrected to 13h17 Sunday: Where was "Faculty of Arts" came to be, correctly, Faculty of Law.
