CATALONIA -- Entrevista a Teresa Forcades (III): «No hem de permetre que es consolidi un model antidemocràtic a Europa» | Bloc de CJ
Entrevista a Teresa Forcades (III): «No hem de permetre que es consolidi un model antidemocràtic a Europa» | Bloc de CJ
Interview with Teresa Forcades (III): "We must not allow the consolidation model undemocratic Europe»
Christianity and Justice. (Interview by Xavier Casanovas Oscar Mateos, Santi Torres and Nani Valley-llossera).
We talk about Europe and the upcoming European Parliament elections. Europe is part of the problem or the solution?
Europe is obviously part of the problem and must be part of the solution.
Part of the problem because there has been a European Union that has
been constructed in a way that favors or promotes certain commercial
interests.
How could that put a minimum wage in Europe require unanimity of all
countries, but instead to approve a treaty overrides the de facto
transnational parliamentary decision will be enough action by the
Commission ? Europe is more commercial than social. There is a structured decision-making in Europe systematically lowers real democracy and sovereignty. Therefore, it is not a social Europe.
Have a monetary union has not taken into account the analysis of the best economists recommended that at least two-speed euro.
Was sung with a single currency walked towards a kind of
neo-colonialism in the countries of southern Europe compared to the
U.S.. So Europe is part of the problem.
And these austerity measures directly what I call the "crime"
austerity, because I like and I think it is a concept that deserves
respect, not the policies that can be applied to cause 25% of Catalonia
children are malnourished. The change of the Spanish Constitution, which was in 2011 that may allow cuts in basic social rights , under a debt through rescue, is a direct attack on democracy and all that it represents. So Europe is part of the problem.
And the solution?
Yeah, because if Europe is not part of the solution , we have no solution. For me it is good idea of Europe is born after a horizontal stretch or could be extended.
But since the Lisbon Treaty we have built a pyramid structure, with a
parliament subject to extensive and complex text that people know, do
not understand and did not vote.
Europe is part of the solution as it is possible and desirable to
create alliances in Europe to change the rules of our coexistence. Europe must also consider a model of peaceful and democratic breakdown. It is not feasible to think in terms of continuity with the current model nor simply reform. With the word anticapitalism indicate the urgent need to release political power from the yoke of economic power. Only then is viable democracy.
Voter ¿legitimize this situation, or PE still has a role to play?
Is that if we do not vote, what do we do? The strategy in democracy to vote for a candidate is a rupture of rupture.
There are also other mechanisms, the holding of a referendum or a
massive collection of signatures that forced a thorough debate in
Parliament. The possibilities are many imaginable.
Feasible alternative Left in Europe? A "constitutional process" in Europe?
There is movement, sure. Here in Barcelona, for example, we had a few months ago Martin Shulz , President of the EP, which came almost like a fireman putting out fires. Said it was not anti-capitalist but almost (laughs). I interpret it as an attempt to avoid the real alternative.
I think they have realized that the situation in the European
Parliament of bipartisanship may be altered, because several countries
are emerging disruptive parties and movements. In Germany there is the Pirate Party, for example, and in Spain there is any possibility of articulating something similar.
There are many people who are willing to vote for such choices, and
they may not dare to do it on a national or regional elections. Want to use European elections to send a message: we are angry and do not trust the traditional parties.
But the alternative may also come from the extreme right. Marine
Le Pen leading the polls in France, also give a vote for these parties
in Austria, Norway, Holland ... It seems that Euroscepticism is being
consolidated and will be consolidated in the next election.
Yes, this is true. So why insist that it separates the issue of national social issue. It is the only antidote to the rise of nationalism in these times of social unrest. The issue has national roots, an emotion and a literature that can become a catalyst. It's "us", atavistic and tribal.
I believe in the reality of belonging, it is obvious that as I am a
contemplative community, and I am aware of the need to feel part of a
group.
I think it is a challenge to the Left being able to embed the discourse
of social justice and individual rights in communities that are organic
communities that actually deserve this name. I think this is the challenge to deal with the rise of the extreme right.
In
this sense, it seems that we are at a crucial time for this malaise
that exists in most of Europe or incline along with greater social
justice or any consolidation of small national identities that make
viable the European project .
True abused the term "historic moment" or "turning point", but add
these two possibilities which runs a pyramid model for uniting Europe, a
model undemocratic. I say "bring together" because although fortunately not, still has many cracks. If this occurs activation policy, may penetrate the system and get to dismantle the undemocratic structure. Certainly there is no guarantee that the break is going to project more social justice, but we tried it and it worked. Yes, we are at a crucial time.
One issue that has to do with all this fear. What strategies fearless in times like we live?
Distinguish between two types of fears. One is the fear of losing salary or t'alimenta feed your family. I fear this will have all the respect. I do not think it has encouraged people to fight alone, because all you get is to stay out of work. And the situation for many people is really dramatic.
The other fear is the fear that if we organize collectively the alternative is worse. Against this fear that I have to fight because it is what prevents us moving. Given that we do historical memory. Help you see what happened in other historical processes of rupture, revolution;
see how these processes, but have not been linear nor easy, most of the
time have resulted in advancement and improvement for the whole of
society. I encourage everyone / is / the legacy that we participate in a movement or rupture platform. Or create it.
And also be informed ...
Accurate. Because fear often associated with dizziness which does not know the cause, and that not knowing paralyzed.
The process of becoming aware it was a slow process and we can not ask
the people who make the overnight, we provide it, in full respect of the
processes and rhythms of each.
And if despite the efforts are still hitting the iron structures
increasingly tough to stop us having to rethink and reconsider continue.
It is a long term struggle, but a struggle for me is meaningful in
itself because what we are doing with the whole movement started is to
try to respond to a situation worthy of injustice. How to live a human situation of injustice not stand up?
