Catalan nationalism did not reach an absolute majority yesterday for the first time since the distant elections of 1984. This is the data. Enough for the PSC to achieve victory in number of votes and percentage, something that had never happened either. Salvador Illa was quick last night to highlight Pedro Sánchez’s outstretched hand policy to normalize Catalan political life as a determining factor in this success. There will be time to reflect, but it is clear that the independence movement always achieved its best results when the central government’s response was heavy-handed. Yesterday, Sánchez’s policy received the best validation it can have: that of the polls.
It was also a good day for Carles Puigdemont, marked by that electoral tie with Esquerra that seemed to last forever. Yesterday Junts obtained 15 more seats than the Republicans, who had a monumental debacle. His strategy of provoking the early elections was a textbook error. In view of the result and the hot intervention yesterday by Pere Aragonès, it is clear that Esquerra will go to the opposition. His management in the Government has punished him, although it is easy for the Republicans to read from now on that they have been too pragmatic and the time has come to return to radicalism. We must also highlight the success of the PP, which managed to multiply its seats in the Parliament by five. Even so, he is 27 behind the socialists.
And now that? Illa will not have an easy time governing, and the risk of new elections is more than evident. However, time must now be given to the parties to accept the result and understand the message that the citizens have sent them. Yesterday we asked here to go vote, but there is boredom and fatigue. This has translated into low participation and a growth in populism – Vox maintains its 11 seats and Aliança enters with two. New elections could make this vote of displeasure grow even more.
There is an opportunity to do politics and take advantage of the outstretched hand. There is always time to force confrontation, but it is worth deepening the dialogue.
