The EU is in turmoil as Catalonia one of the provinces of Spain has voted to be independent of Spain. Catalonia is distinct, but the richest state of Spain and now the Catalan parliament has voted to secede from Spain. The EU has not recognized the split and says that they will only recognize Spain as the de-facto country. But they have cautioned against the use of force, but as things stand Spain will have to use some military force to keep Catalonia in its fold. The question is for how long?
Catalonia has a distinct culture and language and for
long they feel discriminated. This was particularly at its apex when General Franco ruled Spain, but after his death and the restoration of the monarchy and democracy, it was assumed that the problem would die away. It has not happened and now that Catalan parliament has voted for independence, the fat is in the fire.Spain has triggered direct rule over the province and the Chief of Police is fired, but things will not be the same again as the genie has come out of the bottle and in case the popular movement persists, one wonders how Spain can be united. Spain has been calling for a two-state solution to the Palestine problem and is keen that Palestine state is created. Yet at home, it talks of a unitary government and allows no secession. This is the dichotomy of the Spanish policy and much will depend on Donald Trump who has kept an ominous silence on this topic.
Perhaps sooner than later some adjustment will have to be made by the EU and Spain as the days when General Franco ruled with boots on the ground are over.
