It so happened that I was in Barcelona just during the referendum on the separation of Catalonia from Spain. And with my own eyes I watched the reaction of the Spanish authorities on the streets in the form of confrontation between police and protesters. And every night the whole city pounded in pots.
Nevertheless, the referendum was seen more as an attempt by local authorities to blackmail the Madrid government. When it came to proud reports about the number of voters, it became clear that the line could pass at any time.
It was then that all the major European companies that have factories in Catalonia warned that in the event of separation they would move to more legitimate places. In fact, it is these factories, as well as tourism, that are the basis of Catalonia’s finances. Every fifth car in Spain is assembled in Catalonia, plus spare parts - 56,200 jobs and 23.2% of all automotive exports in Spain.
Since tourists here are actively surviving at the level of the policy of the City Hall of Barcelona, which is headed by a completely crazy leftist, the closure of factories would be the completion of the financial independence of the territory. But the people who appeared before the trial in Madrid yesterday stupidly bent their line. Well, in general, jumped. With an unshakable hand, Madrid dispersed the nationalist shop, and their leader Puigdemon ran to hide in Brussels.
To Brussels, which, incidentally, looked with great disapproval at the prospects of a new country with an unknown status (who told you that you are the European Union?) In the EU. The slogan “Catalonia is the new state of Europe” sounded like “Kiev cutlet”. And what then begins, everyone already knows everything. Although they pretend.
In fact, nothing but political ambition and adventurism cannot explain why Catalonia brought itself under the declaration of independence from Spain. Because she generally has a unique status within the country with enormous powers of the local government - the 2006 decision.
And how did the locals manage unprecedented freedoms? Step by step they killed, for example, their cash cow - a tourist pearl of Barcelona. First with the slogans of Tourists Go Home. Then measures to limit short-term rental housing. Then the slogan “Tourists, bring home!” Moved from the walls and graffiti into the official policy of the city hall. For example, direct opposition to crime control measures. Since local gangs started looting from mass theft on the streets, some citizens began to create self-defense cells. So, the city hall forbade them to act. And the police can't handle it.
Well, that's good, says Barcelona's left mayor Ada Colau. The fewer tourists, the better. Starting this year, the tourist fee will be € 4 per day per person.
Actually, the independence of Catalonia is a figment of the imagination of modern local left politicians, nothing more.
There, after all, an amazing situation developed: the historically losers of the left since Franco’s death (and this was just recently), in general, all these years rewrote history for themselves. It was unbearably painful for them to realize that the "dictator Franco" managed to keep the country from collapse, poverty, etc., etc., until 1975. And all because he pinched the tail of the communists and anarchists - the very ones that blew up theaters full of people in the center of Barca. Which staged a bloody massacre in Spain, provoked by Joseph Vissarionovich. And for the fact that he put them in place exactly, they all call him a fascist. Yeah. Fascist-Sephardic - we saw fairy tales and funnier.
Actually, this whole blatant scheme: a bit of autonomy, then a little more autonomy, then expanded autonomy, then a referendum and separation - it is so “by the training manual” that it’s even not interesting. But all this is a deferred revenge on General Franco.
Yesterday, the leaders of the Catalan coup tried to impute the rebellion, but the corpses and arson were not enough for the rebellion. Violence is required to overthrow the rebellion in order to overthrow the existing constitutional order. Actually, 25 years of prison are supposed for a rebellion. Therefore, they were charged with incitement to insurrection and embezzlement of public finances, which is also logical. The former leader of Catalonia, Puigdemona was convicted in absentia. The court decision is not subject to appeal.
Naturally, unrest began in Barcelona right away.
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Thousands of youth who call themselves Tsunami Democràtic are directly connected with today's Barcelona leaders. According to the latest Hong Kong fashion, they blocked the airport, and more than 100 flights had to be canceled. The police are fighting to the last, trying to clear if not the entire airport, then at least its central part and clear the aisles to the check-in counters. But the use of registration is not very good, because crews cannot get on airplanes. Surprisingly, only 58 people sought medical help in such an environment.
Looking at this whole movement, you might think that all Catalans are in a hurry to wake up with a feeling of happiness without Madrid power. But, no matter what the Barcelona say, the number of people who advocate secession from Spain, which reached a record 48.7% in October 2017, is currently 44%, and 48.3% of Catalans are against independence. That is, the minority is again the loudest. As you know, when democracy contradicts democrats, then it perishes first in this conflict.
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.