This Democratic mandate is the direct consequence of an arbitrary ruling of Law -in 2010 the Spanish Constitutional Court cancelled 14 key articles of the Catalan Statute of Autonomy within the 1978 Spanish Constitution, revised and voted in 2006 by both, the Catalan and Spanish parliaments and, in a Referendum, by Catalan people
(written on October 27, 2017)
The Declaration of Independence at the Catalan Parliament today cannot be properly understood without reference to the popular grassroots movement that has originated it. It has to also be noted, that this popular support for Independence could have never seen today without the support of the Catalan institutions, namely, the Catalan Government of Presidents Mas and Puigdemont and the Parliament. Catalans knew it would be difficult, and it will. But it is democracy (from the Greek “rule by the people”) that informs and should dictate the terms of the law, and not the opposite. It is because Independence has been the will of The People #9N2014 #27S2015 #1Oct2017, against the abusive rule by the Spanish state, that today is a celebration of Democracy.
More concretely, this Democratic mandate is the direct consequence of an arbitrary ruling of Law -in 2010 the Spanish Constitutional Court cancelled 14 key articles of the Catalan Statute of Autonomy within the 1978 Spanish Constitution, revised and voted in 2006 by both, the Catalan and Spanish parliaments and, in a Referendum, by Catalan people. Increasing peaceful protest – mass rallies have been seen in Catalonia since 2010. Catalans did no longer want to abide by a Constitution which had ceased to be the one they had voted for. The legitimacy of that Constitution, or the lack of it in Catalan terms, has resulted in the progressive but steady estrangement of Catalans from the Spanish constitutional framework.
Infinitely grateful to the Catalan Government as they made what should be the Norm, Revolutionary, that the People are the ones to rule.
Catalans will now defend their Sovereign institutions against the unfeeling overlord that the Spanish state has long become. But today is a big day, we do not have a king. The hard work has just started, as the Sovereign Peaceful People of Catalonia seek international recognition which will eventually be forthcoming. Catalonia’s right to decide its future shall be understood. We have proved we are patient. We can endure. The mortal leap was needed. The repression shown by the Spanish government on the 1st Oct Referendum day, the STATE VIOLENCE peaceful voters were subjected to was decisive. There is a result of 90% vote in favour of the Catalan Republic on 1st Oct. We proved that there was a majority supporting the Republic with a 42% of turnout (higher than Brexit) under sheer violence. And when 1/3 of the votes were stolen or prevented by the Spanish para-military raids in polling stations. Electoral experts have stated that the projection of the scrutinised vote could have easily given a result of +90% YES and +55% turnout. And yet, the fact remains that It is the 80% Catalans’ wish to be allowed the right to vote in a referendum, one without violence, repression or induced lack of guarantees. We stand together in hope. And celebrate TODAY.
Silvia Alvarez i Ribes és Consultora de Redacció Formal/Acadèmica i Tutora de Tècniques d’Estudi a The University of Edinburgh i Queen Margaret University, també a Edimburg, des de 2006.