Arrest of Catalan Leader Tests Spain, Separatists and E.U.

I would expect the author to demonstrate a bit more insight into this conflict, which has built up over thirty years, not six months. Here are a few points this article fails to mention: 1) Popular support for Catalan independence stands at 43-47%. The majority of Catalonia's citizens want to remain a part of Spain 2) The regional government of Catalonia has in recent years broken ever single statutory rule, dictated by El Estatut (the 1979 statute for Catalan autonomy) 3) The regional government of Catalonia has for 30 years been ruled by the same party Convergencia, which has been mired in corruption charges following the uncovering of 3% kickbacks on all government construction contracts 4) Convergencia (now rebranded as PDCat) is widely accused of exploiting the independence cause, previously championed mainly by the far left and max. 15% of the population, as a smoke screen for corruption 5) Populist false slogans like "Spain is robbing us", "Subsidized Spain lives at the cost of productive Catalonia" has whipped up resentment over many years 6) Catalonia enjoys more devolved powers than most autonomous regions in Spain, and pays less than wealthy German regions do to support nationwide services 7) Schools across Catalonia have reportedly indoctrinated children, using text books such as "The ABC book of Independence". 8) While cutting back on health services, the Cat government has spent milions and millions on setting up foreign "embassies"

The Spanish and Catalan governments are as corrupt and bad as each other , this shows by neither side being able to negotiate over the years. Such a shame for the people as they deserver better. What surprises me is that there is little reporting of the Stasi like tactics of the Catalan government/police setting up a division in 2011 spying on people, entities deemed not to be pro-independence. That and of course diverting public funds to pay for this pitiful fiasco wanted by less than 50% of the population.

The bottom line is that some Catalan politicians broke the law by unilaterally declaring independence from Spain basing their declaration on an illegal and flawed referendum. Yes, the October referendum counted with an overwhelming majority 90+% in favor of independence, but with only 43% of eligible voters participating. The rest boycotted it for fear or because they thought it illegitimate. Later, in the December parliamentary elections 82% of voters cast votes with the result that 48% were in favor of independence and 52% against. That vote is a truer view of what Catalan society really wants. The bottom line is that the majority of Catalan voters were not in favor of independence. As a consequence, it is a misrepresentation for separatists to claim that they represent the will of all or the majority of Catalans. They don't. The cause of the current political deadlock is because rural voters have disproportionate voting power in Catalonia and separatists maintain control of the parliament even though they represent a minority. It's similar to the US where the electoral college gave Trump the win with less votes than Clinton. The notion that political differences are being resolved in the courts is also a misrepresentation. Spain's courts are doing what courts do; they prosecute crime. Some Catalan politicians broke the law and are being held to account. Politics is frustrating. But you can't declare independence every time you don't get your way.

When Mr. Solomont argued that “Catalonia is a region, subject to the Spanish Constitution of 1978, and a national government always has the right to enforce national law.” he nails the real point. For us, catalans, Catalonia is a Nation with all the distinctive approach a Nation has. And that's no an idea comming out of the blue on stormy times, it has been like this for centuries. Treaties, betrayals and wars throughout their history have not changed this thinking in their people. The recent history of the twentieth century proved this to anyone who wants to know it, there is wide coverage in this matter. When the European Union understands that the old conception of the "Europe of states" formed after wars and subsequent treaties (forced by the outcome of these wars), must give way to Europe of the regions and their citizens, then it will make a great step in the construction of a modern Europe. Mainly because Catalans we are very conscious about our belonging to the Europe project, but we also want a voice on how to construct Europe, just like ant other Nation. PS Personal message for Mr Junker: Where he doesn't want a European Union of 90 members, I kindly remind him that his tiny State has 300.000 inhabitants and the population of Catalonia is over 8 million.

Mr. Puigdemont was trailed by Spanish secret police from the moment he left Finland. As soon as his car crossed into Germany, the Spanish police contacted the BKA (equivalent to the US FBI) with a request to arrest him on the orders of a Spanish judge. The German police, following EU regulations complied. His arrest spiraled Germany into a political crises not welcome by Ms. Merkel. The head of the Free Democratic Party, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff declared. “Legally, Mr. Puigdemont's arrest is not objectionable, but politically it creates big problems.” The left demanded to free him, the Green Party to initiate EU supervised political negotiations. What did Spain hoped to achieve in generating a headache for Ms. Merkel, who after months of efforts, finally cobbled Margaretha a government ? One wonders what the Spanish government was thinking. It would have been far wiser to let him proceed to Belgium and extend the time for a political solution.

What a crisis of identities and narrow interests at play, in what could potentially be a win-win for all. If Spain could guarantee Catalans the full rights they are entitled to, and allow cooperation to strengthen the whole of society, it may yet be a victory for reason and common sense, and even friendship. What's so difficult to understand, if there is good will based on the facts, and the beauty of a Spain where it's golden days haven't yet arrived?

"The arrest comes at a particularly combustible time for the European Union, which is coping with Britain’s pending exit from the bloc, a right-wing populist upheaval in Italy, growing labor unrest in France, frictions between Brussels and the increasingly authoritarian governments of Hungary and Poland,... This is called the dying days of the Empire. The question is not if, but when, this current example of Empire building fails. And when it does, it will offer the people of Europe an opportunity to inject democracy into the European project. But it won't be easy. This since the elite of Europe have always had a lopsided view of power. For many of the elite in Europe they still believe that, "Only some are born to lead and the rest should follow." And because of this mindset, the European Union of today suffers.

When I retired in 2000 from San Francisco my original intention was to become an expatriate in Barcelona. When I called the Spanish consulate in San Francisco for instructions nobody answered the phone. I took this as an omen that moving to Catalonia was a bad idea and called the French consulate instead. The young woman who answered was efficient and courteous as she assisted us with our visa. That was seventeen years ago and our home in Provence is surrounded with other multinational retirees from all over Europe like minded in seeking a quiet life style. It's beginning to appear that the more we rely on high tech social media in our lives the more our communities implode with disruption and dysfunction. Spain and many other countries are exploding with disatisfaction! Modernity is not turning out to be the promised land of

Catalonia is already prosperous and has a great deal of autonomy. Catalonia wants full independence, and Spain will never grant it. So the notion that a bit of negotiating will resolve this issue is naive.

This is all due to the profound failure on the part of Rajoy and the central government. What were repeated demands for more autonomy and tax restructuring has metastasized into a full blown independence movement due to Rajoy’s polarizing tactics. It ultimately doesn’t matter what one thinks of the Catalan Independence movement. Soft oppression has alienated that region and has changed it for generations. This could have been avoided but the central government never came to the table with its most powerful region. You can argue on constitutional grounds, but outside of Spain jailing a politician for peaceful dissent just looks like political repression. Pooch will become a famous political prisoner overnight. I am not Catalan - I have no stake in this ugly dust up.

Terrible decision by Rajoy. Instead of calming the waters, he's dangerously close to causing a flood.