Spain is on the brink of elections that could once again elevate the issue of Catalonia's independence struggle to the top of the country's political landscape. This issue, which nearly a decade ago caused a constitutional crisis in Spain, now seems to be dormant, but with the potential victory of the People's Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party in the November 29 elections, it could change rapidly.
Separatist Sentiments in Catalonia
Francesc-Marc Álvaro, a candidate for the Republican Senate of Catalonia, has stated that they are confident that with the election of the right, their autonomy powers will be limited and serious interventions in Catalonia's society will take place. He views these actions as pouring gasoline on the fire of separatist sentiments in the region.
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Miriam Nogueras, a representative of the separatist party Junts, has also emphasized that Catalonia has never been respected by any regime or government in Spain, and the future government will not be an exception. She believes that the independence movement will regain strength, this time with more force, as Catalonia's dependence on Spain makes everyone poorer.
Economic and Political Impacts
From Madrid's perspective, the economic and political stakes in this issue are very high. Catalonia is the second largest autonomous region in Spain after Andalusia, representing about 19% of the national economy and 16.5% of the population. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez came to power after an unsuccessful independence attempt in 2017 and has pursued policies aimed at negotiating with separatist parties.
In contrast, the People's Party, with a hardline approach to Catalonia, has accused Sánchez of initiating the process of separation from the constitutional system. Vox also strongly opposes Catalonia's separatism and has called for the illegalization of separatist parties.
However, currently, both right-wing parties are not directly attacking Catalonia. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of the People's Party, has emphasized that Catalonia has no fear of him, and his goal is the efficiency of autonomy and the presence of the Spanish government in Catalonia.
Meanwhile, Vox has also softened its tone regarding Catalonia during this election period and has focused more on immigration-related issues. This change in tone reflects their desire to avoid disrespecting Catalonia's voters.
But could this tactical downplaying by the right lead to a revival of the Catalonia independence movement? Catalonia still has 43% of its population in support of independence, but this issue has been sidelined due to other priorities such as housing and security.
