Catalonia Today, July 13, 2006 | Less politics, more management

After the exhausting and convulsive Estatut process, Catalonia seems to be calling for calm. The noise of the almost three years of left-wing tripartite government, which has produced a significant break in relations with the rest of the Spanish state, has marked the end of an era. With Jordi Pujol and Pasqual Maragall retired and the Estatut approved, it seems Catalonia is calling for a well-deserved political holiday. The candidates for the presidency of the Generalitat, Artur Mas (CiU) and José Montilla (PSC), have both stressed this idea –now it's time for stability. Montilla is the least charismatic candidate imaginable, but he arrives backed by his achievements as mayor, president of the Diputació and industry minister. Mas has succeeded in overcoming the stereotype of identikit candidate, but he always acts as if he is following ascript. The management of CiU and PSC are attempting to alienate the ERC by presenting them as impetuous. This is, partly, the dilemma of the coming elections –a choice between seny (sense) or rauxa (impulse), both of which, as you all well know, are characteristics intrinsically linked to the Catalan personality.

(Article de Saül Gordillo al setmanari Catalonia Today, 13 de juliol de 2006, pàgina 3.)