Euskadi, the Basque Country, has lived very well these last few years. It's not a complaint, it's an observation. It's known how to taken advantages of EAJ's seats in the Spanish Congress to exploit to the maximum the PP's need from its insufficient parliamentary majority. The EAJ's pragmatic soul has won all its battles unlike that more idyllic, but also more ambitious view of the Catalan independence movement. Let's not kid ourselves: the starting points of the two movements were different. The Basque independence movement had two, if you like, complementary aims. Putting an end to the era of ETA with no possible turning back and strengthening its privileged economic position with regards to the rest of Spain's autonomous communities. It must be said that in both the results have been very positive.
On the other hand, the Catalan independence movement had two objectives over the same period: to agree with Spain on a fiscal pact and on an independence referendum. It's failed on both, although the "consultation" was held, as we know, unilaterally, like the proclamation of independence in the Parliament. However, Euskadi and Catalonia share something else, beyond the successes of one and the failures of the other: the non-existent recognition of their national identities and their right to self-determination. The question is: can it be given up?
The organisation this Sunday of a 202km-long human chain linking San Sebastián, Bilbao and Vitoria in favour of the right to decide, which some 100,000 people took part in, strongly reminds you of the Via Catalana, the "Catalan Way to independence" which, in 2013, linked the 400km from the north of the country to the south, involving more than 1.6 million people. The platform Gure Esku Dago (The future is in our hands) is the equivalent of the ANC (Catalan National Assembly).
At a time when Pedro Sánchez's government has just taken office and all its efforts are aimed at sealing off the problem of Catalonia with its categorical opposition to the referendum, the Basque movement is encouraging. Because, just days after the motion of no-confidence and with the emotional embarrassment of those who believed that the change could be real overcome, it's starting to be seen that very few things are going to change beyond aesthetics and a few concessions to get by.
And, whilst I'm writing, I hear minister Borrell in the background saying that Catalonia is on the edge of a civil confrontation. The pyromaniac fireman has spoken. Was it necessary to support a government with a minister like that?