Catalonia, in these difficult hours, is in the middle of a coup d'état against its institutions and its democracy. A soft coup with different fronts which aims to end Catalan autonomy, besiege the president and the government, instil a state of terror and fear in the public and, finally, prevent the referendum on 1st October. The repression is of such magnitude that the rule of law in Catalonia and civil liberties (of protest, of opinion, of the press, of business) are currently threatened and at serious risk. These harsh words, with sadness and deep worry, have to be said.
The Spanish state has taken a very dangerous step, surely, without evaluating well enough the move it was to carry out. The coup microclimate in Madrid, always ready to solve things by force. The state has made a move with the desperation of someone who knows that only by force can they prevent the normal working of democracy in Catalonia, caring little for putting at risk the coexistence in Catalonia woven over generations and which the Franco dictatorship, far from breaking, helped to strengthen. In all certainty, it will be no different on this occasion, beyond the governors and parties who, instead of accepting that 80% of Catalans would like to vote, have opted for coercive means with no legal basis and improper for a Western democracy. But they know that too.
To this provocation, because, at the end of the day, it's nothing but a provocation, we must respond with serenity and with firmness. With the same serenity that the people of Catalonia has shown off since 2010 when the Constitutional Court struck down the new Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia and which then, through million-strong protests in the street, called first for a fiscal pact, then for its own state and finally for independence. The revolution of smiles, as the Catalan movement has become known, which has been admired by Europe, has to continue in exactly the same way, not moving even a millimetre from its natural tendency and not falling for the provocations it's receiving. Smiles and carnations. Strength and serenity. This has to be the framework of the reply led by the pro-independence organisations.
But the reply also has to be firm and unequivocal from the Catalan government and institutions. Democracy can only be defended with more democracy and we mustn't waver from this path at this difficult time in the face of the repression and threats we're receiving. The 1st October referendum is today more necessary than ever and all democrats, be they pro-independence or not, are called on to respond with their votes to the coup d'état happening in Catalonia. The ballot boxes have to be filled with voting slips and the isolation of the Partit Popular, the governing Popular Party in Madrid, has to be made clear with yeses, noes and null votes. It is the public called to give this response beyond what this or that political party decides or thinks.
It's a long time since the Catalan conflict got away from the Partit Popular and led Spain into a dead-end street. Their partners, Ciutadans (Citizens) and PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party), are equally responsible. PSOE especially, who have renounced their history and lost their identity. The situation is not easy and the times of comfort zones and neutrality are over. That's the price you have to pay for leaving politics in the hands of the justice system and the police. For renouncing agreements and pacts. For pensée unique and attacks on democracy. For all of these reasons, we have to stand beside the Catalan institutions, government and Parliament. Because only in this way will Catalans be able to defend democracy.