Echoes of Franco

It is easy to forget that only four decades ago Spain was still living under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. That it is now a successful modern democracy is testament to the painstaking efforts made since the general’s death. The current constitution was drafted precisely to reverse the oppression of Spain’s linguistic and cultural minorities under Franco, and put an end to regional antagonism. Yet that settlement now appears to be cracking, with an independence referendum planned by the regional government of Catalonia for October 1.

The motivation for secession appears more economic than cultural: Catalonia gets less out of the national tax system than it puts in. But passions are nevertheless running high – too high if the violence on the streets of Barcelona yesterday was anything to go by. The demonisation by those who seek independence of those who resist it bears unwelcome resemblance to the worst aspects of Scottish nationalism.

Madrid is correct to have judged the referendum unconstitutional. It has erred, however, by pursuing a heavy-handed response. There is considerable support in Catalonia for a plebiscite, but not necessarily for independence. Catalans want to be heard, but for many it is so they can say they wish to remain part of Spain.

This crisis can still be ended amiably, but to do so both sides must remember that trampling on the legitimate concerns of fellow citizens, declaring opponents traitors and giving way to the violence of faction against faction in pursuit of political ends are not signs of new and just representation, but methods of a dictatorship the country thought it had left behind.