Spain need not be divided if people can talk

Talk and action of independence and secessionism borders on hurt and cuts into the soul of a nation. Worse, the business of governance comes to a standstill. There is political and economic anguish for many in Spain, particularly for the government in Madrid, which says it will do all it can to keep the country united. Many people in Catalonia, however, want to go their separate ways. Individual freedoms meeting regional aspirations can deliver unpalatable results in some cases, which the central government in Madrid wants to avoid. Last week’s referendum was a big ‘yes’ according to the regional government, which is expected to announce the official results this week. Until then, Spain will be on the edge. It’s a war of nerves that will eat into the psyche of a nation that can still pull back from the brink of separation if the two sides manage to strike some deal, any deal to delay or dump the movement that will serve little or no purpose for Spain or for Europe.

What’s the harm in being both Catalan and Spanish? It’s true that Catalonia has more economic heft among Spain’s 17 regions — it produces 25 per cent of the country’s exports. Not just that, it also brings in the most taxes (21 per cent of the country’s total) than it gets back from the government. It is for this very reason that Catalonia enjoys more autonomy that the rest of Spain. Yet, Catalans claim they do not feel connected to the heartland. It’s an emotional connection that they miss and yearn for. And we are constrained to believe that it is true. Madrid, for its part, has blown hot and cold to Catalonia’s entreaties. Now, it has come to this — a referendum that complicates an already strained relationship. For Madrid, it’s not just the fear of losing wealth; independent movements in other regions could chug into action with this development. Thankfully, in these difficult times, there is some hope through the Let’s Talk initiative that seeks to mend make-believe fences in the minds of the two regions. The Catalan issue, if left unresolved, could eat into the vitals of a country that has much to gain, together.