Madridiocy

The most ludicrous part of this drama is that it is entirely provoked by incompetent politicians in Madrid. Despite certain antipathy felt by Catalans for the rest of Spain (and vice versa), independence has really lacked broad support for many years. There have been vocal proponents of the idea but most Catalans were generally happy with the status quo and support for self-determination was at about 20% in 2010.

In fact, the turnout at the referendum in 2017 was only 42% – meaning that most Catalans decided not to take part in the controversial vote (though many could have been discouraged by preventive actions of the police).

Nevertheless, thousands took to the streets to celebrate the result – 90% in favor of independence – and demand its recognition. Instead of extending a political olive branch and seek compromise and political dialogue, which should – first and foremost – address many of the grievances that Catalans had about their relationship with Spain (requesting greater autonomy and control of their finances) – Madrid opted for a show of force and brutally trampled the protesting public, incurring a considerable damage to Spain’s reputation. As a result, support for separation from Spain has surged to nearly 50% in recent years.

Well done Madrid, well done.

And now, instead of seeking solutions that could support national unity, Spanish politicians and judges decided to make an example of their opponents in a good, old Francoist way.

But their myopia and incompetence do not end there. One of the issues that keep undermining relations between the government in Madrid and restive regions – what also led to decades’ long war waged by Basque ETA in form of terrorist attacks – is the fact that Spain as a country is really poorly managed.

Lots of resentment has its source in the fact that autonomous regions representing de facto separate nations are doing much better economically and feel drained by the central authorities. Add to that the lengthy persecution under Franco, lasting from late 1930s (after the disastrous Civil War) until 1975 when infamous Caudillo departed this world, and you can understand why they do not exactly feel it’s a good deal to keep bankrolling a state which has greatly limited their political freedoms and is, in effect, a continuation of the old regime in a more toned down form – what has started erupting in shows of power like this one.

In fact, one could argue that Spain is the most mismanaged big country in the developed West.

A member of ridiculed PIIGS, burdened by debt in the vicinity of 100% of its GDP, plagued by horrendous unemployment still deep into double digits (around 14% today, after peaking at over 25% mere 5-6 years ago – only Greece is worse) and its GDP per capita levels merely returning today to where they were 10 years ago.

So it’s hardly surprising that many people in the wealthiest and nationally-distinct regions want out from under Madrid’s control.

Perhaps the most surprising thing is that so many of them still want to remain in – although the central government (in yet another feat of enormous incompetence, regardless of which party is in charge) is busy fueling separatist sentiments by subjecting its opponents to tough authoritarian treatment.