Catalonia Today, March 30, 2006 | Taking a back seat

Catalan politics has definitively faded into the background in Spain, as the Eta cease-fire has brought the Basque Country back into the foreground. This coincides with the Catalan Estatut reform bill being passed in the Spanish parliament. Thus Zapatero can forget about the Catalan question, which has caused him so many headaches during his first two years of office, because he now has to focus on the peace process and political and standardisation in the Basque Country, by no means an easy prospect. As ERC leader Carod-Rovira said the other day, "The Basque Country is much more digestible for Spain than Catalonia." In fact, it seems that we Catalans have a greater power to outrage certain Spanish sectors. It's true, whether we like it or not. Bringing forty years of terrorism to an end is a pleasing prospect for Spain. We’re all happy at the new situation, though prudence is important. Though most Catalans will not feel much satisfaction at the new statute, and a referendum that approves it with a ridiculous, weakened "yes" vote would be closing the Catalan question prematurely. We are not trying to be difficult, we just don't feel comfortable enough in Spain.

(Article de Saül Gordillo al setmanari Catalonia Today, 30 de març de 2006, pàgina 3.)