No solution without a referendum

Vicenç Villatoro
1 min

WHAT IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO as the "Catalan problem" is not only a problem for Catalans. It is also a problem for Spain (arguably its biggest). Also, to a lesser, yet increasing extent, it is something of a problem for the international community, too. All three interested parties would benefit from a solution (even though they do not believe in the same one).

The most complicated aspect, in my opinion, is that any solution must overcome a hurdle: a binding referendum, the result of which all three parties agree to respect. This is difficult, since one of the parties, the Spanish government, refuses to overcome this hurdle, even as a means to legitimise their own solution to the issue.

Nevertheless, there is no alternate option which avoids this step. Catalan rumblings of unilateral action only make sense if they serve as a means to apply pressure to obtain the much-needed binding referendum. As for the Spanish government’s continual practice of unilateralism (contempt, the courts and smear campaigns), it risks everything on a single tactic: the attrition of the Catalan independence movement through fatigue, desertion and division. If this fails to occur, the problem will either result in an eternal stalemate or a referendum will have to be held to resolve it. And what will the solution be in the latter instance? The option which wins the referendum...

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