Catalan independence: A symbolic gesture without legal impact
The Catalan declaration lasted 44 seconds. The PSOE-Junts pact acknowledges deep disagreements while maintaining the status quo on independence.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The Catalan declaration lasted 44 seconds: independence as a symbolic gesture
The text proclaiming the Catalan Republic as an "independent and sovereign state" had a real efficacy of 44 seconds, according to Wikipedia. Its own signatory, the President of the Generalitat, suspended it before the ink dried. Since then, every milestone in the pro-independence process has trinc the same pattern: many declarations, zero legal consequences. The agreement between PSOE and Junts for the investiture makes this clear in writing: both parties "acknowledge their profound disagreements" and confirm that pacts can be reached "without renouncing their respective positions." In short: no one moves, everyone benefits.
What the PSOE-Junts pact says about the referendum
The document is an exercise in balancing act. Junts considers the result of the October 1st referendum and the declaration of October 27, 2017 "legitimate." PSOE denies "all legality and validity" to both and maintains its rejection of any unilateral action. And with these two incompatible positions, they sign. The PSC repeats without hesitation: there will be no referendum and they will not move from the Constitution. Meanwhile, the dialogue table is described by Junts as a "exhausted path."
Some argue that all this is a choreographed routine so each side can claim victory. Against this view lies a fact: agreements are signed, published, and executed where it matters—transfers, financing, amnesty—while the declared object of the conflict, independence, remains exactly where it was in 2017.
The Rodalies transfer or arguing over the fine print
Junts has requested Aragonès's appearance for accepting the "deception" of the Rodalies transfer. Their thesis: if management goes to a mixed-ownership company, there is no "complete and total" transfer. ERC, however, wants to delay the processing to sabotage a quick return of the former president that would allow him to run in the Catalan elections. The CUP calls it directly a "pact of surrender." The CDRs demand mobilizations because "no pacts, no renunciations." Each defends their turf with the same energy they once used to defend the republic.
The CUP and CDRs: the last believers
ERC and Junts rejected the new referendum law that the CUP wanted to promote. The anti-capitalist party accuses the two big ones of abandoning independence. The Committees for the Defense of the Republic believe that "mobilization must persist, more organized and numerous to continue pushing the political class and destabilizing the State." It is the final paradox: those who make the most noise have the least power, and those who govern have already turned independence into a management issue.
The real goal: economic concertation and less noise
Some argue that independence was never the end, but the lever. The PNV insists that Pujol and Roca did not want to take the risk of the economic concertation. According to a calculation circulating in forums, the Catalan exception in the LOFCA (Organic Law on Financing of Autonomous Communities) would allow the Generalitat to keep 100% of taxes paid in Catalonia. That would be the prize actually collected. Meanwhile, the official narrative crumbles on the economic front: the pro-independence process has condemned Catalonia to the bottom of growth among major regions, nearly three points below the Community of Madrid in terms of population.
The social cost no one signs up for
26.7% of Barcelonans were victims of a crime in 2022, according to circulating data. More than 73% of crimes go unpunished. The Generalitat blames immigration for poor results in the PISA report, with Catalonia at the bottom of Spain and the worst reading level since 2006. The mayor of Ripoll launches a tour against the migratory "invasion." The three crises of Aragonès's government are summed up in a phrase that circulates: "Without water, in the dark, and children cannot read, write, or add."
How long can a narrative that no longer promises anything and only manages what remains hold up?
The text proclaiming the Catalan Republic as an "independent and sovereign state" had a real efficacy of 44 seconds, according to Wikipedia. Its own signatory, the President of the Generalitat, suspended it before the ink dried. Since then, every milestone in the pro-independence process has trinc the same pattern: many declarations, zero legal consequences. The agreement between PSOE and Junts for the investiture makes this clear in writing: both parties "acknowledge their profound disagreements" and confirm that pacts can be reached "without renouncing their respective positions." In short: no one moves, everyone benefits.
What the PSOE-Junts pact says about the referendum
The document is an exercise in balancing act. Junts considers the result of the October 1st referendum and the declaration of October 27, 2017 "legitimate." PSOE denies "all legality and validity" to both and maintains its rejection of any unilateral action. And with these two incompatible positions, they sign. The PSC repeats without hesitation: there will be no referendum and they will not move from the Constitution. Meanwhile, the dialogue table is described by Junts as a "exhausted path."
Some argue that all this is a choreographed routine so each side can claim victory. Against this view lies a fact: agreements are signed, published, and executed where it matters—transfers, financing, amnesty—while the declared object of the conflict, independence, remains exactly where it was in 2017.
The Rodalies transfer or arguing over the fine print
Junts has requested Aragonès's appearance for accepting the "deception" of the Rodalies transfer. Their thesis: if management goes to a mixed-ownership company, there is no "complete and total" transfer. ERC, however, wants to delay the processing to sabotage a quick return of the former president that would allow him to run in the Catalan elections. The CUP calls it directly a "pact of surrender." The CDRs demand mobilizations because "no pacts, no renunciations." Each defends their turf with the same energy they once used to defend the republic.
The CUP and CDRs: the last believers
ERC and Junts rejected the new referendum law that the CUP wanted to promote. The anti-capitalist party accuses the two big ones of abandoning independence. The Committees for the Defense of the Republic believe that "mobilization must persist, more organized and numerous to continue pushing the political class and destabilizing the State." It is the final paradox: those who make the most noise have the least power, and those who govern have already turned independence into a management issue.
The real goal: economic concertation and less noise
Some argue that independence was never the end, but the lever. The PNV insists that Pujol and Roca did not want to take the risk of the economic concertation. According to a calculation circulating in forums, the Catalan exception in the LOFCA (Organic Law on Financing of Autonomous Communities) would allow the Generalitat to keep 100% of taxes paid in Catalonia. That would be the prize actually collected. Meanwhile, the official narrative crumbles on the economic front: the pro-independence process has condemned Catalonia to the bottom of growth among major regions, nearly three points below the Community of Madrid in terms of population.
The social cost no one signs up for
26.7% of Barcelonans were victims of a crime in 2022, according to circulating data. More than 73% of crimes go unpunished. The Generalitat blames immigration for poor results in the PISA report, with Catalonia at the bottom of Spain and the worst reading level since 2006. The mayor of Ripoll launches a tour against the migratory "invasion." The three crises of Aragonès's government are summed up in a phrase that circulates: "Without water, in the dark, and children cannot read, write, or add."
How long can a narrative that no longer promises anything and only manages what remains hold up?
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (104 replies).
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