In defense of our institutions

Catalan society reacted with firmness and serenity yesterday in defense of Catalonia's self-governance institutions, gravely threatened by the suspension of financial autonomy and by a police action that is unbecoming of a European democracy. The popular reaction was again impressive, at the same time forceful and characterized by exemplary civility. The voice of a peaceful people cannot be silenced by force or imposition, not in a society that is unwilling to renounce either its self-governance or the right to vote on its own future.

No prosecutor or judge, at the orders of a Spanish government incapable of political negotiation or dialogue, can pare away thirty six years of self-government, nor can they ignore the legitimacy of the Parliament, nor disdain mayors elected by popular vote. Nor can they silence the voice of a broad majority that defends the right to hold a referendum. The raids on Generalitat facilities and private homes, the arrests of public employees, the arbitrary seizure of Catalan government bank accounts, and intimidation of media outlets have severely damaged the credibility of the Spanish government, at least in the eyes of Catalan society and probably in the international sphere as well, which will find it difficult to understand this treatment of a country whose capital is Barcelona, a worldwide leader in diversity, freedom, and tolerance-- the same city that so admirably reacted to the jihadist attacks this summer.

Democracy cannot be defended by violating separation of powers and offering police responses to entrenched political challenges. Democracy is not a legal formality that can be twisted around when convenient. By following this path, Spain will continue to lose the battle for the democratic argument. That is how they will lose Catalonia. Because, in fact, these senseless actions against the Generalitat in response to the October 1st referendum will accomplish nothing except strengthen the unity that surrounds the right to decide, freedom and Catalan self-government. It must be made clear that calls for dialogue have come up empty, and that the Spanish government's position has never included an acceptance of negotiation. And despite the indignation, it must be emphasized that only dialogue, civility, and democracy will be effective tools to overcome this unfortunate moment.

The fundamental problem is the endemic inability of the Spanish majority political class (PP, PSOE, and Cs) to accept the authentic plurinational nature of Spain, and in any case, to face this reality, uncomfortable for them and yet indisputable, with dialogue. Catalonia, historically a nation with medieval roots, was at the forefront of the fight for democracy in Spain in the 20th century, before and during the Republic. It was also at the forefront of the fight against the Franco dictatorship, exercised unquestionable leadership in the creation of a democratic system during the Transition, and led and promoted the pact for the current system of devolved regional powers. But this pact, which began to crumble with the Constitutional Court's ruling on the Catalan Statute in 2006, was dealt a fatal blow yesterday, a blow from both courts of law and police.

Given all this, faced with the aggressive actions of the Spanish government, the only possible response is to defend our institutions firmly, work for a democracy and a quality country, and tenaciously and civically maintain the will of the majority of Catalans to vote in a referendum on their future.