Tension grows between Catalonia and Aragon due to the incredulity of the Pyrenees: "Independence has nothing to do with the Olympics"

• Games Separatist mayors pressure the Generalitat

The story may be an artificial wall, but it is the main setback encountered by the 2030 Winter Olympics project in the Pyrenees. The pro-independence government of the Generalitat de Esquerra Republicana and Junts per Catalunya defends an initiative that will be presented and led by the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE). And this is how the main pro-independence mayors of the municipalities of the Catalan Pyrenees also understand it, who do not want to miss out on an opportunity that they consider unique for the territory. However, the Government, aware that anti-government movements have sprung up in the bases of its parties, in addition to publicly maintaining that the candidacy should not be two-headed with Aragon, have promoted a binding consultation that provokes misgivings.

“Independence has nothing to do with the Games. Who has to propose a candidacy is the Spanish Olympic Committee, not the Catalan, Aragonese or Spanish government. It is a project of the COE », maintains in conversation with EL MUNDO

, mayor of Rialp since 2007 and president of the PDECat of the veguería del Pirineo.

And Sabarich extends: «I prefer that the Olympic Games go ahead, even if they are shared, than not be done.

If I could choose, of course I would like them to be only in Catalonia.

Because we have been preparing them for years and there is a lot of work behind them.

We regret that in the end the neighbors get on the bandwagon.

But if Madrid tells you that Catalonia and Aragon should share them, then so be it.

We are facing a unique opportunity to recover all these years of abandonment that we have suffered by the different governments, both in Catalonia and in Spain.

"A Spanish candidacy in Spanish territory"

A position shared by

, mayor of Arán.

«The candidacy is presented by the COE.

And if it is a Spanish candidacy, it will be done in Spanish territory.

We cannot confuse political aspirations with what really benefits the Pyrenees and its people », Vergés affirms to this newspaper, who trusts that the open tensions between the governments of Catalonia and Aragon will not affect the development of the project.

«From the Conselh Generau d'Aran we did see, from the first meeting at the territorial table, a clear commitment from the Generalitat. Another thing is the debate that has been generated by announcing that Aragón has to be a subsidiary. In November we organized an act with the COE and some 70 municipalities from the Aragonese and Catalan Pyrenees joined. There is a debate with the name of the candidacy, but that does not matter to us. We will do everything in our power to make it a joint, consensual and balanced candidacy. These Games are a golden opportunity, ”says the mayor of Arán.

An example of the escalation of tensions was experienced yesterday, when

, President of the Government of Aragon, informed his counterpart in the Generalitat,

, of the suspension of the meeting scheduled for this Friday in Balaguer to discuss the candidacy.

He cited "formal and content issues."

"Manipulation in Spanish key"

"For now there is no nuance on the part of Junts that changes our support for the Olympics," JxCat deputy

assures EL MUNDO . Although he warns: «If we saw a manipulation and these Games wanted to be held in Spanish, we would not agree. These Olympics are Catalan. And it is expected that some tests will be done in other places, such as Aragon, Andorra or France. But it is a candidacy that we have thought of and worked on from Catalonia. There is no problem that there is some test in Aragon. But not that it is a joint candidacy of 50%. If not they had asked for it ».

"The ideal thing would be to organize an Olympic Games in an independent Catalonia. Without a doubt. But now we are not independent, so the Games have to be requested by the COE. When we achieve independence, which I hope will be before 2030, we will have to separate the things like good neighbors. And the Games would be one more", continues Canadell, who adds: "Unfortunately, we go hand in hand with the Spanish government in everything. There is nothing we can do beyond the powers that Catalonia has exclusively. What remedy do we have? Perhaps many pro-independence people think that if we do this it is because we politicians will not achieve independence before 2030. And that is false. We want independence before 2030. If it can be much sooner, the better."

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• Aragon

• Catalonia

• Together for Catalonia

• Andorra

• France

• winter Olympic Games

• sports

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