Unity and ballots, the message of the fifth mass Diada
The Catalan independence movement again took to the streets to assert its validity
Mission accomplished. Yesterday, the Catalan independence movement again took to the streets to assert its validity and showed that the passage of time and the uncertainties of the process have not affected, for now, its ability to rally people together. Hundreds of thousands of people again mobilized in a new and perfect show of civility and organizational efficiency unparalleled in Europe. The event was divided between Barcelona and four other spots: Salt, Berga, Lleida, and Tarragona, four Catalan cities that last Sunday saw their most massive demonstrations ever.
Once the question of turnout was resolved, the message remained. And this time it was clear and can be summarized in two words: unity and ballots. After the elections on September 27 failed to return a clear result (pro-independence forces totaled 48%, versus 39% clearly against and 11.5% undefined), yesterday opened the way to the idea that, to bring the process to conclusion, it will be necessary to go back to the polls.
Along these lines, Carles Puigdemont, President of the Generalitat, announced that he will take advantage of the vote of confidence on September 28 to offer the Spanish government the possibility of holding a binding and mutually agreed referendum. It will be a way of putting the referendum back at the center of the debate, as well as sending a message abroad, and denouncing the political obstructionism and judicial persecution that Spain has launched against pro-independence leaders. In the coming months, then, political forces will have to negotiate the "democratic phase" (a euphemism for a referendum or new elections) that must serve to legitimize, in the end, an eventual declaration of independence.
Faced with yesterday's show of force, the Spanish government and political forces must admit once and for all that this movement is not a storm in a teacup, nor a passing fancy, but quite the opposite. And that the marginalization of Catalan parties in the Spanish parliament is what is impeding, for now, the formation of a new government in Madrid. Common sense, as well as parliamentary arithmetic, indicates that a referendum, in the British or Canadian style, is the only reasonable way out of the conundrum. And the longer it takes Madrid to realize this, the more difficult it will be to justify their stance on Catalonia’s demands before the international community.
