Catalonia Today, April 20, 2006 | Turning the page on the Estatut

The Estatut is "presented and consecrated", in the words of ERC president, Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira. Admittedly, the Estatut has enough support to pass through the Senate (because ERC has said that it will not work together with the PP) and the referendum (because of the Generalitat campaign and general party approval). The lead-up to the referendum is the rest period that politicians and citizens seem to want, in order to change the subject and face the second period of the Catalan term of office (if the government makes it) with other subjects and concerns on the debating table. The referendum is the main concern now, both for those in favour of the Estatut and those against. For all those Catalans who have ignored the process, I'm sure they won't care about it. If the weather is good on June 18, there will be a low voter turnout. Even though some parties are trying to link the Estatut with an electoral rejection of PP's ideas. It only remains for ERC to show its disappointment with the Estatut without breaking up the government. After that, there will be life beyond the Estatut. There will even a tripartite—the next one.

(Article de Saül Gordillo al setmanari Catalonia Today, 20 d'abril de 2006, pàgina 3.)