The victory of pro-independence parties in Catalonia’s election (Report, 22 December) is a slap in the face for Spain’s prime minister, Mariano Rajoy. Those seeking independence won enough votes to secure a majority in the regional parliament and give new momentum to their political struggle for independence from Spain. The three pro-independence forces together took 70 seats, two above a majority required in the Catalan parliament. It was a truly amazing result given the circumstances, with the regional government removed and Catalan parliament dissolved following the first independence referendum in October – a referendum that witnessed extensive violence when Mr Rajoy deployed riot police to try and prevent people voting. With direct rule imposed by Madrid and Catalonia’s political leaders in jail and exile, Mr Rajoy was clearly doing all he could to staunch the pro-independence movement.
Mr Rajoy has become Spain’s answer to Theresa May. He gambled in calling an early election to end the political crisis, a move that has clearly backfired. Against all the odds, the pro-unionist coalition of parties was defeated by pro-independence parties, and Mr Rajoy’s ruling Popular party was left with only three seats from 11 held in the previous parliament. The Spanish government, which initially staunchly resisted talks with the Catalan government, must now look to sit down with it and try and resolve a situation which, despite Madrid’s best attempts, is simply not going away.
Alex Orr
Edinburgh
• Will Rajoy now take the path of dialogue rather than confrontation? And will other European leaders put pressure on Spain to go ahead with reform of the Spanish constitution as an alternative to Catalan secession? The key clause in the 1978 constitution referring to Spain as a unitary state was the army’s price for staying out of politics and agreeing to the transition to democracy. Spain has moved on, but its constitution has not changed.
John Payne
Frome, Somerset
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