A New Political Horizon
The electoral results of recent Sunday have generated a glimmer of hope in Catalonia, reflecting a collective consciousness about the role of the political class and the independence movement in the region. The popular response to the Spanish violence during the October 1st referendum not only challenged fears and clichés, but also put pressure on the political class to defend the referendum as such. However, this force was wasted, which is now reflected in the loss of seats by politicians who used the independence movement as a bargaining chip to pressure the State, instead of promoting real independence.
Collective Political Consciousness
The abandonment of traditional parties by pro-independence voters reflects a deeper political consciousness that goes beyond the empty rhetoric and self-interested radicalism of the political class. Despite the manipulation of the idea of independence by the Catalan partyocracy, many pro-independence supporters have not renounced their convictions, although some have distanced themselves from the political class without abandoning the idea itself.
Conflict Treatment
The electoral results reflect a latent ethnic conflict in Catalonia, which does not disappear despite the death of the independence process. ERC has tried to govern as if the conflict did not exist, covering it up with supposed ‘good management’ that, due to incompetence, has turned out to be disastrous. On the other hand, Junts observes the conflict to strengthen its position and reinforce a distribution of power that would be unnatural for a centralist state like Spain, which ultimately dwarfs the Catalans.
Conflict Exploitation
The PSC, with a rhetoric of unity and harmony, exploits the conflict from the point of view of Spanishness, gaining support through the ethnic vote. This strategy, like that of Ciudadanos in 2017, seeks to keep certain sectors within Spanishness, which in turn hinders the integration of immigration and promotes the Spanishization of Catalonia.
Political Renewal
President Aragonès’ announcement to withdraw from the political front line is a positive step, but a broader renewal would be needed that includes the withdrawal of leaders such as Puigdemont, Junqueras and Rovira, who have represented the independence movement but have renounced the true search for independence. the independence. As long as these parties are led by those who abandoned the independence cause in 2017, a new path for Catalonia will not be able to begin.
