Catalonia Today, June 8, 2006 | The vote of dignity

Dignity is the important word in the campaign for the referendum on the Estatut reform. Supporters of Catalan independence are calling for people to reject, out of national dignity, the Estatut agreed in La Moncloa and approved by the Spanish parliament, which cut the original text passed by the Catalan parliament by approximately 70 per cent. The CiU, in contrast, are calling on Catalans to vote "yes", also out of dignity, because it means an improvement for the country with respect to the current Estatut, passed in 1979. The Socialists have taken the opportunity to attack their bête noir, the PP, and the party's Catalan-phobia; the Socialists have defended the dignity of their "yes" vote to halt the pro-centralism of the PP.

But apart from all this dignity, there is little explanation of ideas and not much enthusiasm. On all sides. The Catalan political class is aware that things have not been done well during the two years of drafting and negotiating the Estatut, and that the main challenge is to prevent a low turnout; thus they will be encouraging a high turnout to ensure that Catalonia does not appear not to care about the passing of its main law.

(Article de Saül Gordillo al setmanari Catalonia Today, 8 de juny de 2006, pàgina 3.)