English translation:
Gone with the wind
"The revolution devours its own children”. The
sentence was attributed to Maximillien Robespierre, as he was way to the
guillotine to be beheaded in 1794. However, the phrase is attributed in origin
to the Girondist Pierre Victurnien Vergniaud. Among other reasons because
Robespierre had tremendous jaw injury and could not speak.
What is currently happening in Catalonia is not (yet), by
any stretch of the imagination, a real revolution. Indeed, however, it is a
period of great change. And the changes are also of some protagonists of the
political scene. Within weeks we have seen disappear from the stage of politics
in this corner of Europe, through the side door of the scenario, the head of
the state, the opposition leader in the state and also his counterpart and
party colleague in Catalonia, and the man who has been president of the
Generalitat for nearly a quarter century. A superficial analysis can attempt to
determine that each case is different, and possibly individually the result of
various circumstances, distant or out of its time.
The head of state, King of Spain, abdicated. This may seem
an initiative, shall we say, "sovereign". By his own regal will. But
forced by situations and circumstances that include a personal history hardly
justifiable, when it became evident his adventures elephant hunter in the
company of a woman who was not his. His ageing and health problems, though
evident, have been denied by the crown. The precipitation that has surrounded
the abdication, with a special law passed in haste, followed by protection of
impunity also validated in a hurry, points clearly to a political decision and,
surely, imposed.
The leaders of the thus far majority opposition party, the
PSOE and its version the Socialist Party of Catalonia, had quit in quick
succession because the lack of support among their own followers. The landmark
may well have been the results of the disastrous European elections.
Jordi Pujol, the great leader, now retired, of the
conservative coalition that has governed Catalonia over 23 years, immolated
himself revealing fiscal irregularities involving his family, but in magnitudes
yet to clarify that question seriously his personal and political integrity.
But, from my personal point of view, these events all
recognize the coincidence in time with the progress of the process for the
independence in Catalonia. The abdication of the king could have prepared
better, more quietly and with a sound legal support. It was the prospect of a
period of uncertainty next autumn, which has put fear that simply could not be
carried out, lacking the parliamentary majority necessary to pull it out.
The Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba political life could be well
finished after the electoral defeat in May 25th. He lingered on but only to
support the hasty decisions of "the state", which may not be
supported by his successor. Pere Navarro was blown in the wind by the
separatist faction of his own party, split in half, or perhaps more than half.
If were it not by extraordinary pressure of the independence
movement, is more than possible that Jordi Pujol had continued concealed by
their coreligionists and not really pursued by the central government tax
people.
Those who insist that Catalonia's independence is
impossible, certainly around last Christmas also would considered impossible
for the Bourbon king, Jordi Pujol, Rubalcaba and Pere Navarro would not be
around by the end of the first half of the year. Not that they were impediments
to the process, alas! there are others, but the dynamics of the events directly
caused by the independence movement, have blown them aside. And we will see
many others before the end of the year.
XA
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