October is considered the best month to visit Catalonia owing to the
Barcelona Jazz Festival, the human castle building competition in Tarragona,
the sparkling wine festival in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia and the festivities in Girona
surrounding the Fires de Sant Narcis. Yet October 2017 draws to a close on a
highly contentious note with a referendum, a declaration of independence and attempts
to secede being met with a military response, the invoking of constitutional provisions
for direct rule and strong attempts to stop the disintegration of a country.
Spain’s political turmoil in recent months has left the world flummoxed
as states, especially in European Union, cautiously observe developments within
a country which once conquered large swathes of territory and enforced the use
of a language that is the second most spoken in the world today. Two centuries
ago, at the Battle of Maipú, Spanish control of the southern region of South America ended. While the
Argentine native, Jose de San Martin crossed into Chile in 1817 and joined
forces with Bernardo O’Higgins to drive the Spanish out the following year, it
would be a matter of years before the Spanish were completely routed from the
mainland and retained only Cuba and Puerto Rico until 1898 when they became
protectorates of the United States of America following the Spanish – American War.
Two hundred years later in 2017 Spain grapples with a problem within her own
mainland, which has festered for centuries.
The Catalan secession bid is not new. Identified as a vital region by the
Romans, leaders and their empires at varied times, have recognised autonomous
rule whilst thwarting attempts of secession. Catalans even placed themselves under
French rule during the reign of Louis XIII, before facing complete subjugation
in the ensuing decades. The harshest times were under General Franco who did
not recognize autonomy. The President of Catalania from 1934, Lluís Companys became the first democratically
elected European leader to be executed when he was killed by a firing squad on October
15th 1940, following his capture by the Gestapo and being handed
over to Franco’s forces. It is
against such a backdrop that the Catalan bid to secede draws international
significance as the resistance movement has floundered and flourished over the centuries.
The troubling factor remains the impact on the region, given the sensitivity
of the issue. Secession is never a comfortable subject given the ramifications experienced
and precedents established. With memories of the disintegration of Yugoslavia, the
subsequent secession of Kosovo, the division of Sudan and the independence of
East Timor among others, Catalonia’s people themselves stand divided despite
the overwhelming Parliamentary vote of independence.
The October 01st 2017 referendum called by Catalan
President Carles Puigdemont rang alarm bells in Spain. Immediate concern arises
over the validity of the vote, at which 90% of the 43% of eligible voters supported
independence. This translates into 38.7% of the total eligible voters
supporting secession.
What then of the remaining 61.3% and their stance on the issue of
independence?
Nationalism, Europe and secession movements
The most pressing problem in Europe at the moment was supposed to be Brexit
and the efforts being made to reach a ‘deal’ which is acceptable to all. Whilst
the regional body was trying to extricate itself from the logjam of Brexit,
Catalonia poses fresh concern as sovereignty and regionalism are challenged once
again.
Nationalistic sentiment heightened in 2017. Dutch elections saw Geert
Wilders out-performing expectation. France’s Marine Le Pen came to the very doorstep
of the Elysees, before losing in the final round of the Presidential election.
Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) became the third largest
party, winning seats in the Bundestag for the first time. Although moderates
were able to hold sway in 2017, the ensuing period till the next round of
elections in 2022 remains crucial. Policy formulation and implementation over
the next half a decade will decide the demise or rise of nationalism in Europe.
The present remains most concerning. Leaders across Europe have been
quick to express explicit support for Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Knowing
the consequences of secession, they don’t want the Catalan issue spreading its
tentacles or influencing separatist movements in their respective territories. France’s
Macron and his government have been firm in their opposition. Nationalist
sentiments in Corsica and Brittany saw Macron not winning a single seat in the
former territory at the parliamentary election earlier this year, but three seats
were filled by a secessionist alliance. Nationalists in Brittany waved the
Catalan flag warning that it is they who would decide on their own future.
Contending with separatism in Italy, the country’s foreign minister Angelino
Alfano condemned the independence declaration, over fears of separatism movements
in the Lombardy and Veneto regions gathering momentum along with those in Sicily
and South Tyrol. Catalonia’s impact spreads further caution in Croatia over
Istria Country which has been demanding regional autonomy; in the Czech
Republic owing to Moravia which has been seeking self-determination since 2005,
and Czech Silesia; in Poland given the strong advocacy for autonomy in Upper
Silesia; in Romania with ethnic Hungarians demanding secession in Székely Land; in Denmark, although to a lesser
degree, over Bornholm which has sought independence since the 1990s and Faroe Islands’
similar plea since 1948; in Belgium with disagreement over Flanders and
Wallonia, in Germany given Bavarian nationalism; and even in the Basque region
of Spain.
Despite Catalonia constituting one of the wealthiest regions of Spain,
and contributing a sizable economic value to the EU, the President of European
Commission cautioned that he does not want ‘a situation where tomorrow, the European
Union is made up of 95 different states.’ Jean-Claude Juncker’s fears are well
founded as the domino effect of Catalonia could be experienced across the
European region.
Given the plethora of struggles, it is the United Kingdom that faces
the gravest threat. Scotland’s External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop noted
that the people of Catalonia ‘must have the ability to determine their own
future’, but stopped short of openly recognizing the budding state. With Northern
Ireland and Wales also harbouring secessionist movements, it is the enthusiasm of
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to discuss a further referendum on Scottish
independence in autumn next year that appears the immediate consequence.
The occult of October could very well return in a year’s time as the
focus moves from Spain to the United Kingdom in October 2018.
- -
AWARELOGUE
EDITORIAL
