From the Catalan elections, there are many takeaways, and each reflects the stance or position of the voice delivering them. Yet what stands out is a clear retreat in the independence movement, with quite different outcomes for Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya and the CUP. Between the two, they shed eighteen seats, while Puigdemont’s group fared much better, gaining three new seats. This is surprising given their history, including defiance of the law and a legacy shaped by a traditional Catalanism that has sometimes oscillated between a modest three percent share and elitist, unsupportive coalitions.
But the voter acts in a way that shapes the outcome, making decisions based on visions of the future that often diverge from the current reality of the political actors. These are dreams that cast a glow on certain figures while simultaneously reflecting a critique of other values that should matter at the ballot box. That is the essence of freedom. People go to the polls for reasons that may involve hope or, conversely, choose to abstain as a form of weariness or punishment.
Y si por un lado el independentismo, no diría ha fracasado, más bien señalaría que ha tenido un claro retroceso, la derecha ha crecido con un Partido Popular que ha pasado de tres diputados a 15 y un PSC que ha sumado nueve diputados, alcanzando los 42 en un claro reconocimiento por parte de sus votantes de las políticas de acercamiento que ha llevado a cabo el Gobierno de Sánchez. Pero más allá de todas las conclusiones o análisis que se puedan hacer, el mayor de los interrogantes es si alguno de los candidatos conseguirá una investidura y la respuesta en estos momentos, y ante las declaraciones de ERC, es que no, a no ser que la prudencia y la generosidad iluminaran el camino de quienes con una abstención pueden facilitar que Salvador Illa sea el próximo presidente de la Generalitat.
But the question persists: will any candidate secure investiture? At present, the consensus among observers is cautious. It would require a blend of prudence and generosity from those who hold their votes in reserve to create a path that might allow Salvador Illa to become the president of the Generalitat, should an abstention from others unlock the necessary support. This is the political dynamic in play as the negotiations unfold and the political landscape shifts with each declaration and gesture.
Pero pedir prudencia y generosidad en política es mucho, así que casi con toda seguridad iremos a una repetición electoral que traerá vaya usted a saber qué resultado, un poco en la línea de Canetti cuando escribió: «confiaba en vivir mucho tiempo sin que Dios se diera cuenta». La ilusión trasnocha y habita lejos cuando las puertas se cierran con convicciones que son de usar y tirar. Buena suerte.
It might be easy to forecast another election, almost a certainty, given the noisy cadence of politics. That sentiment echoes a line from a writer who mused about living long enough to see the world change without divine notice. Illusions fade quickly when firm beliefs close doors that were meant to open. Still, best wishes accompany those who face the ballot box in the weeks ahead.