We are not cheering, we are in shock. Am posting from BCN... not disclosed that on here before but it is obvs relevant for this thread. Personally, my family has always been anti independence. Until a few years ago it just seemed to be a phrase that was swung around at election time for the more hardcore separatists. Recently, it has become the main focus of everyday life, from work, to school, to transport, to town hall, friends, colleagues, neighbours, family... it is everywhere.
As I said, I dont support the separatists. I believe that Spain is better united (but not under Rajoy, will come to that later!) And that Catalonia benefits more from its status within the EU as part of Spain, than standing alone and severing ties with Madrid.
However, I can increasingly sympathise with their desire for autodetermination. It is right to say that the Catalans have tried for over a decade to have peaceful talks and mediations with Madrid, and have been met with closed doors. Or as in 2010 & 2014, false promises that aggravated things still further! A very basic example, but if a parent refuses to even hear what their child wants to ask permission for, what option are they leaving them?
Rajoy is a hateful man, who has systematically killed off social rights, job security, worsened the country's debt and economy, and belongs to the most corrupt party in living memory. Its less a case of finding corruption under every PP Rock, and more a case that they are sunbathing on the rock in plain sight, completely confident in their immunity. They have majority in the Senate. They were RELECTED... words fail me, the spanish voters are their own worst enemies, I cried when that result was announced.
Whilst in Catalonia it is obvious that Rajoys handling of this has been abysmal, and in my opinion he is the most responsible of all the players (with the EUs approval/backing seemingly? Wont get into this or my essay will be unreadably long), in Spain he is being cheered. "Show those catalans we mean business. Show them mano dura (hard hand)". When the national police were dispatched to Catalonia, they were waved off from their hometowns like heroes going to war "go get those catalans!"
The hostility, the brutality, the complete refusal to dialogue, has caused me to sympathise not with the separatists per se, but definitely with those requesting a referendum. It is the peaceful, democratic path. The result will speak for itself. Remain will win, but the high % requesting independence will mean some measures or reforms will have to be agreed at least.
I can't link the mayor Ada Colau's fb post about metaphorical trains colliding without linking my own profile, but if you can read it, it is worthwhile.
Rajoy's right wing party are being cheered in Spain. The vote today was not based on the results of the referendum, but on the votes in the Parlament, by the legally elected representative MPs. Rajoy will dissolve the Catalan government, force elections, and has admitted that if the winning party is one "continuing the path of illegality" they will be dissolved again and Madrid will continue to occupy the places of Catalan autonomic government officials. Democracy?
I am lost for words. I felt safer in the knowledge that the EU were watching, but they have decided to turn a blind eye. The member states are backing central spanish government, as a way of legitimizing central rule in respect to their own separatist regions, sending a message that this independence act will not be tolerated.
I wouldn't be surprised to see tanks rolling down Av. Diagonal next week out of the spanish military cuartel, to forcibly remove the catalan gov. who will likely barricade themselves and refuse to abandon their offices.
Whatever the result, whoever you agree with, it is undoubtedly a sad and historic moment for Catalunya