This week Spain held an important regional election. The Catalan nationalist parties' push towards secession through a call for a referendum was the critical issue voters were consulted on. That and, let's not forget, the ramping economic crisis and the potential different ways to address it.
The parties seen as responsible for the feeble economic state of affairs that has brought us here were punished by the electorate. On the other hand, the 'pro Catalan independence' and 'pro a united Spain' supporters maintained roughly their previous positions. What the increased voter turnout highlighted though, was the polarization of that vote. It was the smaller parties, with clearer messages, such as ERC (secessionists) and C's (unionists), that grew significantly.
The combined effects yielded somewhat surprising results. No opinion poll had really seen it coming. Now we will have to wait before decisions are made and more light is shed as to what will happen next. The weakened position of CiU, the majority party with government responsibilities, adds a new level of uncertainty.
I have always believed in an approach to politics based on reason and not on sentiment. For this reason and none other I am a declared unionist. I will never support a political cause that calls for new frontiers based on real or supposed 'differential identities'. I find it simply dangerously anti-modern, anti-liberal and backward looking.
I really found reasons for hope in the very significant growth experienced by Albert Rivera's Ciudadanos (C's). The party has spent the last six years preaching for a reformed Spain, dead set against corruption, pushing for a stronger democracy based on enhanced transparency. That message, replicated and augmented throughout the whole of Spain by UPyD, is the message of a much-needed true political reform.
Time is ripe (has been for some time) for the two parties to combine forces and really gain enough political weight to be able to act change in the current Spanish political scene. There is just too much at stake. We, the citizens, cannot afford that politicking replaces true politics, particularly in the hands of those who we clearly perceive to be on our side.
Finally, here goes a further reaching contribution to the sort of things I believe unionists should be thinking about right now (in Spanish): “Deformación profesional”.
