On February 28th, Catalans voted again for independence. It was the third round of a process of local referenda held in Catalonia municipalities. The first round was in September, where just one municipality voted. The second wave came in December, with approximately 160 municipalities voting. In February, it was the turn for 80 more municipalities. So far then 240 out of 945 Catalan municipalities have cast their vote for Independence. Once translated into people, means that 900.000 citizens have been called to vote, out of more than 5 milion catalans entitled to vote. Next referenda rounds are scheduled in April and June, and in the case of Catalonia’s National Capital, Barcelona, the exact date has not been fixed yet.

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Even though all these local referenda have no legal consequences, since are organized by private associations, it is obvious that from a poltical, symbolical and psychological point of view, its impact has been very deep. Also they have attracted a big deal of national and, what is more important, international media interest, with a large number of foreign media team covering its development.

Catalonia Independence referenda are held on a local level since it is impossible to held a Catalonia national referendum on this issues without the agreement and permission of Spanish central institutions. To avoid legal pursuits by Spanish judicial power, referenda are considered an expression not of the legal Catalan political class (members of the Catalonia Parliament and Mayors and local councilliors), but of the rich and multiple catalan civil society, through its associations and local citizens platforms.

As participation in these referenda is not compulsory, turn in percentages reached 41% in September, 27% in December and 21% in February. May be from an strict legal point of view, these percentages are low. But if you see them from a citizens participation perspective, they are absolute great, even astonishing. More if you take into account that they were reach against Spanish and Catalan Government will, with no public money involved and, even more important, a incredible spanish and catalan media boycott -exactly the opposite behavior of foreign and global media as stated. No other citizen initiative has reached such percentage of citizens engagement so far.

But the real outcome of these referende are the strong support for Independence. More than 90% of those who cast valid votes, were for Independence. That is an astonishing figure. Even more if compared to the against vote who only reached between 3 to 5%.

In both second and third rounds, international observers were deployed on the field. They followed all the process and concluded fairness was guaranteed. They added that the whole idea was an example of democracy at work, and it deserved to be known all around.

Independence for Catalonia is a badly needed demand, since under Spanish regime, Catalonia economy, culture, tongue, and, above all, people’s welfare is deteriorating. After decades of ideoligical and organic struggles, now it seems that Independence demand is finally considered a realistic option for a short to mid term option.

Catalan people realized that under Spanish regime, Catalonia loses each year about 10% of its GDP, that do not come back from the taxes they pay to Spanish Government. In numbers, this means 22 billions euros each year. As poverty, unemployment is rising in Catalonia, these amount of money is badly needed to offer more services and social programs, and to fund research and education centers to increase Catalan workforce, secure families and support firms.

Each month, the “Catalonia Next State in Europe” motto is growingly shared by large number of people.

Author : daguer
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