FAQ – WithCatalonia

Here are answers to some of the typical questions about the Catalan sovereignty movement. In fact, rather than questions, many are misunderstandings. Some are even deliberately promoted lies aimed at undermining support for the Catalan movement.

See all the FAQ as a single web page. · Download the whole FAQ in PDF as a printable document.

1. “The independence movement is just a bourgeois thing”

False. 80% of the Catalan population— and thus a large proportion of the working people of Catalonia — defend the right to decide in a referendum.

2. “The struggle for independence is a manoeuvre by Catalan elites to cover up their corruption”

False. The struggle for independence has been pushed by mobilisation from below and by Catalan civil society organisations.

3. “If the independence struggle was progressive, the Spanish left would support it”

It is sad, but they are slow in seeing that the attacks on democracy in Catalonia endanger all progressive forces in the Spanish state.

4. “Every nationalist movement is right wing and racist by nature”

Not true. The struggle for the national rights of Catalonia has very clearly gone hand in hand with the promotion of social and environmental justice.

5. “It is not fair to impose schooling in Catalan on Spanish-speaking families”

Schooling in Catalan is a successful system achieved largely thanks to the struggles of working class Spanish-speaking families.

6. “They should have agreed a referendum with Madrid”

Since 2012 the Spanish government has rejected 18 proposals for dialogue, from many different political forces.

7. “The referendum is not constitutional”

They amended the Constitution to meet the demands of the EU. They could amend it for Catalonia but don’t want to.

8. “We don’t want to see a repeat of the Balkans”

The Balkans have a very specific history, the case of Catalonia and Spain is very different.

9. “We need less borders, not more”

Catalonia wants to open the borders to refugees. The Spanish State reinforces the borders between people.

10. “It’s all about money: Catalans are richer than the rest of Spain”

The richest autonomous community in Spain is actually Madrid, but there is poverty in both Catalonia and Madrid.

11. “Catalonia doesn’t want to help the poorer parts of Spain”

Madrid doesn’t spend the taxes it collects in Catalonia on bringing economic improvements to the poorer regions.

12. “Independence doesn’t mean much in today’s globalised world”

Despite globalisation, and the devolution of responsibilities to the autonomous communities, many things are still directly controlled by Madrid.

13. “The struggle for independence provokes the rise of fascism”

False. It’s the authoritarian attacks on the social movements, including the independence movement, that encourage fascism.

14. “The political prisoners are really criminals”

Authoritarian governments, from Francoism to apartheid South Africa, have always said that political prisoners are mere criminals.

15. “If you become independent, you will end up outside Europe”

Catalonia has strong relations with Europe and all the Mediterranean region. This will not change.

16. “Catalonia is already an autonomous region: isn’t that enough?”

The system of autonomous communities was designed, in the shadow of Francoism, to limit the stateless nations’ capacity of self-government.

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