Malaise

But when we move from the strictly private, the consumer terrain, to the area of public interest, of collective projects, of preoccupation for society and for the future, then we must frankly admit that there is great malaise in Catalonia. There is great confusion and discouragement. This is evident everywhere. In politics, in the proliferation of all manner of initiatives, with their greater or lesser degrees of irritation, and obviously in the degree of non-participation. In the feeling that Catalonia has been and is being mistreated in terms of economical equality, respect and image. And, in short, in the feeling that the political and institutional system that has served us well for the last thirty years has began to break down.

Perhaps the latter explains a fact that of late has surprised some, here and especially in the rest of Spain. I refer to the apparently feeble and bland, indecisive, defence of the King following the burning of photographs. This incident has given rise to condemnation, both inside and outside Catalonia, of the Catalan political parties – all of them except the PP -, of the principal Catalan Institutions and Catalan society in general. And it is true that given the line taken over the last thirty years by the majority, not only in the political arena but also in Catalan society, one would have expected a more forthright response in favour of the monarch. Because what is most surprising is not that an extremely marginal political group burnt photographs of the King, but rather the pitiful response from the Catalan political and institutional arena.

What happened?

I believe this has more to do with the confidence crisis in the system than a lack of respect towards the monarchy. A system that has the King as its apex. The King forms part – and a very essential part – of the system. And the system does not work. Not owing to any fault of the King, but it does not work. And the indifference, distrust, or disillusionment with respect to the system affects all its components. For instance, much more than the King, it affects the political class and the conscience of the people, who should feel duty-bound to participate in the democracy.

One bona fide example. In a group debating how to mount a more energetic defence of the King – for the King, holds one of the participants, played a key role during the transition and in the defence of democracy —, the response, which was not isolated, was: “Alright. But no one has been standing up for the Catalans in a long time”. And the only response that anyone could make to this remark was that things could be worse. Even were this true, it would not ease the malaise or rally the people. Not even in support of the King.

Economic growth and its social impact, the indisputable benefits of European integration and consumer optimism can conceal the malaise. Until the day some begin to burn photographs, some rock the territorial configuration, some create an unhealthy climate in politics and the media, and yet others join in with an “anything goes” attitude. What can we say of the depressing and demoralising spectacle that the leading Spanish political parties offer? Of their demagogy and bad taste? Or the imprudence, foolishness and incompetence with which they have dealt first with the question of Catalonia, and then that of all the Autonomies?

Or of the embarrassing show that the Constitutional Court has put on with the complicity of the PSOE and PP? Who would have faith in this Court? Or the spectacle of an uncontrolled press, unobjective, of an exacerbated tendentiousness, whether it is from the right or the left? And with respect to sectarian campaigns against Catalonia has anyone really lifted a finger?

All this – parties, press, Constitutional Court, ...- all this forms an essential part of the system. And the King, too.

Of a system that has gone into crisis. Of a crisis that we hope will be reconcilable. Yet it is serious and is being handled with selfish and unethical criteria.

Therefore, where does the King stand? The King cannot dictate to the parties what they must or must not do, say or not say. Nor can he demand seriousness and a moral code from the entire political class, opposition and government. Nor can he order the word solidarity not to be used constantly and unfairly against Catalonia. Nor can he order the hate campaigns against Catalonia to cease. Or perhaps he could? But there is no guarantee that anyone would take notice. On the other hand, would a President of the Republic – one elected by the PP, or by the PSOE after an election campaign where, at this stage, anything goes – defend Catalonia?

It is right to merit the King’s for his actions. It is right. What is more, it is not he who is failing, it is the system and, at any rate, nothing will be fixed by burning photographs. We need to be fully aware that the entire system, is teetering and this is happening as a result of the low level of ethics and of wholesale deceit, greed, demagogy, and sectarianism.

And if we have to combat this in Catalonia – and we must combat it, we first need to accept the evidence. The evidence is that there is a deep feeling of malaise. And a loss of confidence in ourselves and in the others.

But we will not overcome it by preaching and practicing renunciation. And national depersonalisation and mediocrity. Which is what is being done. Nor by burning photographs of the King in a display of radical exhibitionism.

Spain and Catalonia have squandered a key political and civic asset. And specifically in Catalonia we have against us not only our own errors but also the errors of the rest of Spain as well as politics and the anti-Catalan mood that dominates it.

To summarise, it is necessary, more than ever, - in politics but also in society, in the world of culture, in the economy, in the world of ideas, in the world of ethics- to re-address some of our approaches. And re-nourish our morale and out self-respect. We have many assets that we are currently not exploiting, because in the midst of the confusion we have forgotten they exist. We must reject the suggestion of depersonalisation and mediocrity. And be aware that childish radicalism will lead us nowhere. Binging and renunciation, so different, have one thing in common in that they lead us to exhaustion and decadence.

Re-think, re-address or re-launch. It can be said in many ways. But it has to be made to happen.