The lack of political intuition in Catalonia in the face of the ‘sorpasso’ of Madrid and Valencia is surprising, so to speak. It is increasingly evident that regional power is beginning to tip the balance and not exactly on the Catalan side. Pressure for Catalonia and oxygen for Valencia. It is one of the first effects of the more than cordial agreement between Isabel Díaz Ayuso and Carlos Mazón, openly displayed these days, before and after the Government put out to tender the expansion works of the port of Valencia for 656 million. For this infrastructure, the private sector contributes the rest, up to 1.5 billion of the total cost.
The two baronies have discovered the advantages of feeding each other, economically speaking, so they have taken their love affair beyond the political issue. From the clamp of opposition to Pedro Sánchez they have gone on to form a strategic alliance, and without looking back. Theirs is a ‘win-win’ that buries old policies of Aznar in relation to the Mediterranean axis. Ayuso could not be clearer after the expansion of port infrastructure was approved: “Madrid already has a port!” Port, beach and ‘mascletà’, which will be fired in the Cibeles or Colón squares on February 17 or 18 (it is about to close) as an appetizer of the Fallas. Such is the good vibe.
Fortune smiles on Valencians, despite Vox. And Catalonia is still dragging its feet because of the ‘procés’, despite the power of Barcelona. Amnesty, multilingualism or the transfer of Rodalies do not feed the economy. Soon, Valencia will add a powerful port that will become a key logistics area in Spain and Europe and from which Madrid will undoubtedly benefit for its exports.
Infrastructure and industry provide economic sustainability, more than tourism, and Valencians have been able to see this well. The 1,500 million from the port fall on our neighbors like May water in a year prolific in favorable headlines thanks to the execution of the Mediterranean corridor, the profitable freight railway lines with Madrid and large international investments such as the Volskwagen gigafactory that, let us remember , Catalunya let slip.
Time will tell whether or not this competitive bet will end in a definitive rupture between the Valencian and Catalan political elites. The truth is that the Government of the Generalitat has not cared about cultivating relations with the neighboring community, not even under the government of the socialist Ximo Puig. The question that hangs from this reflection: Has Catalonia ceased to be the reference that it had been for many Valencians historically?
And Madrid continues in the sprint. There are the year-end data published by the INE on GDP, or those of the Chamber of Commerce on foreign investment. We were only missing AENA, which is also active and has already sent the airlines the plans for the future Madrid macro airport. The Adolfo Suárez could end up being one of the largest in the world in 2031 while in Catalonia we continue arguing in a loop whether it is better to enlarge the Prat airport or connect other smaller ones such as Reus or Girona by train.
The thing seems obvious: if you don’t decide, others will do it for you.
