The juncture
Jordi Pujol
Editorial / October 31, 2006
The current and decisive political state of affairs is situated in a far-reaching, powerful framework of global challenge. Catalonia finds itself at a complex juncture. It is a critical moment. Although this does not imply that we should be pessimistic, because we find ourselves in conditions to rise above the challenge well enough. But it is a delicate and decisive moment in which, depending on how we handle it, we can either advance or become bogged down. If we become bogged down we will retreat and lose much ground. Because one aspect of this moment, as I said, is the magnitude and complexity of the challenge, and especially the speed at which everything is happening, the speed of change.
We are facing globalisation in all its aspects, economic, political, cultural, and so forth. The world has shrunk. China, Poland and Turkey are no longer distant countries – they are here. When we buy something, be it a wallet, a dress, a pair of glasses, some fabric or a turbine, we often fail to realise that the product is made in China, Pakistan or the Czech Republic. All of these countries are here.
We are facing increasing competitiveness. And the barrage of new technologies is affecting our habits and our work. All of this poses a great challenge for our economy, for our capacity to create wealth and, therefore, it places a strain on the welfare system. Additionally, there has been a sudden and massive influx of immigrants that, while forming the driving force of economic growth, is placing a strain on our society in terms of cohesion and identity. This issue is causing widespread concern throughout Europe. Lastly, we are facing two vital events. One is our new Statute, which if applied correctly will provide us with new possibilities of self-government. This alone attaches special importance to the present. The other is the internal and external cost of the Statute negotiations, especially the negative climate towards Catalonia, as well as its loss of prestige, which has been generated in the rest of Spain.
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The scale and significance of the challenge should not alarm us. We have sufficient human resources; we have traditions; we have a good economy; we have a the resilience to preserve our identity; we have sufficient experience and a vocation for integration; we have sufficient vitality, we have enough history and also a vocation for the future, not merely to resist this formidable challenge that faces us, but also to find a new impulse as a country and a society. Provided, however, that the country has clear ideas regarding what it is and what it aspires to, that it has sound convictions and constructive attitudes and a positive outlook on society and politics.
It is time for serenity and coherence. It is time for efficiency rather than spectacle. It is time to regain our self-respect and hope. It is time to be ambitious and show common sense at the same time.
