Generalitat de CatalunyaCarles Puigdemont
In 2017, the whole world suddenly turned to the president of the Spanish region of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont. Under his leadership, separatists voted en masse to secede from Spain in an illegal referendum. Catalans who opposed independence stayed home en masse.
Catalonia then declared independence. But the national government in Madrid took over power in the region and threatened to severely punish the leaders of the independence movement. Puigdemont fled to Belgium. Catalans took to the streets en masse a number of times in protest.
But in recent years, support for independence has declined sharply. Yet since the national elections in July, Puigdemont’s party has suddenly regained a key role in Spanish politics.
New referendum?
Here’s the thing: in the elections, the conservative party Partido Popular became the largest. But the other main right-wing party, Vox, won too few seats to achieve a majority together.
The party of outgoing Social Democratic Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez could continue to rule. But then he needs the support of Junts per Catalunya, the Catalan party around Puigdemont.
NieuwsuurIn the hometown of Puigdemont, Amer, they hope for his return.
So it seems that he holds the key to the formation, says Pablo Simón, political scientist at the University Carlos III. “Left and right are almost equal, Junts can be the deciding factor. A party that hardly played a role nationally. They have radical independence ideals.”
The party wants to co-govern, but at a high price: amnesty for all those involved in the independence struggle and a new referendum. The second demand certainly has no chance, according to the social democrats. “An independence referendum is not an option,” says former senator José Montilla. “But people who have been convicted or who are still under trial are looking for a way to put the past behind them and live peacefully together again. This is an opportunity we need to explore.”
Political scientist Simón also thinks that amnesty is within reach. The separatists of 2017 would then not be punished and Puigdemont could come back to Spain. “The forming parties are looking for a compromise. I think the theme of amnesty is getting closer because Sánchez has already taken steps in that direction.”
‘National holiday
But for some of the Catalans that is not enough. For them, independence remains a hard requirement. On September 11 is the National Day of Catalonia and then they hope that the independence fire will be lit again. “We expect a great holiday,” said Bàrbara Roviró of the independence movement ANC. “People celebrate this day to show Spain that we still want independence. And to make it clear to our politicians that only independence is acceptable to us.”
Political scientist Jesús Palomar (University of Barcelona) thinks that the forming parties will reach an agreement that could theoretically lead to a referendum. “That would open the door for the independence movement. It offers perspective for the future.”
Anyway: now that even the hardliners around Puigdemont are talking to Madrid again, not protest but the negotiating table seems to be the future for independence. Simón: “Demonstrations that want to overthrow the Spanish constitution are absolutely out of the question. Even the biggest separatists are no longer out for that. They know very well that the Catalans are fed up. The protest has already destroyed a lot.”
2023-09-03 05:00:02
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