A comparison
Referendums in Spain and Ukraine

In 2017, a referendum was held in Spain in the autonomous region of Catalonia. The separatists wanted a complete separation from Spain and to establish their own state.

In the last days of September this year, a referendum was held in the Donbass, made up of the two states of Donetsk and Lugansk there, which have already separated from the state of Ukraine in 2014, are voting in a referendum on whether they want to join the Russian Federation, similar to the accession of the GDR (East Germany) to the Federal Republic of Germany.

A comparison of the referendums can shed light on the political situation and intentions of the Catalan separatists.

There is still a lot to be done
Open questions after this action day

Despite the participation of only a few thousand people in the demonstration of the organisation „Escuela para Todos“ (School for All) in Barcelona to enforce at least 25% Spanish teaching in Catalan schools, the Spanish mainstream media reported favourably. The organisation „Hablamos Español“, which supported this demonstration locally and with additional actions in 13 Spanish cities and in Brussels, was not mentioned anywhere to my knowledge.

„Hablamos Español“ had supported this demonstration, although it considers 25% Spanish instruction only as a minimum demand and demands the right to freedom of choice of language in all regions of Spain. One scoffer at the rainy support action in Valencia (picture) even said that 25% Spanish, that sounded like the demand of slaves for fewer lashes.

How could the situation be assessed?

A hot nuclear war is still possible
Language imposition? Isn't there something more important?

Two major crises and their contradictions are coming to a head.

In Germany, the Corona measures are being tightened again, while in many other countries normality has long since returned. „The Times“ even headlines: „Little by little the truth of lockdown is being admitted: it was a disaster“

The sanctions in the war against Russia threaten to lead to a deindustrialisation of Europe and corresponding social tensions. A hot nuclear war is not ruled out just because things have gone „well“ so far.

Can it be justified under these circumstances to worry about language imposition and Catalan separatism?

Undeterred by the will of the people and the constitution
Even more Valenciano

Several scandals in the Comunidad Valenciana have forced President Ximo Puig (PSOE) to replace his vice-president and ally from Compromìs, Mónica Oltra, after his education minister, who belongs to the same nationalist camp as Oltra, had to leave in May this year.

What is the message of the new Minister of Education, Raquel Tamarit? Maximum Valenciano in school!

Preparing for a hot autumn?
The fight against language imposiiton continues

The protest takes to the streets again. The Presidium of the Valencian Parliament denies the organisation Hablamos Español the right to defend its demands for the free choice of language before Parliament.

That is why Hablamos Español called for meetings yesterday, Sunday. I have translated the report.

Legal, illegal, Don't give a F*** translates a German rhyme
Language imposition and the erosion of the judicial system

Please please, teach our children at least a quarter in Spanish. This modest request has been met by the highest courts in Spain and also in Catalonia, demanding that the Catalan government provide at least 25% of instruction in Spanish and not in Catalan. After all, the native language of the majority of Catalans is Spanish.

But that doesn't bother the separatists, who are in the Catalan government thanks to the special Catalan electoral system and the electoral situation during the Corona events. Rulings are only recognized if they are in the separatists' favor.

The situation in the Valencian community is not much different. 40,000 signatures had been collected under extremely difficult conditions for a popular legislative initiative for the free choice of the language also in the classroom.

Is this justified?
Separatism and espionage

The separatists have been complaining for days that they are being spied on and suspect Madrid. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's response is that he is also being spied on. For days, the Spanish press has been dominated by these mutual complaints.

Topics that fall short include: It is forbidden to speak Spanish in Barcelona City Hall, according to one commentator on the fact that a local police officer (Guardia Urbano) was prevented from speaking Spanish during an exam to become a sergeant. Or: In the Valencian community, the government requires a higher Valenciano language level from officials.

How sensible is that?
Valenciano for Ukrainian refugees

OK-diario reports on an „Easter egg“ of the Valencian government: Valencian President „Puig lets Ukrainian refugees 'immerse' in Valenciano“. By „immersion“ (inmersión) is meant that only one language is taught.

Valencian President Ximo Puig (PSOE) together with Education Minister Vicent Marzá of Compromís have decided that about 25,000 refugees will have to study mainly in Valenciano.

Some progress
Valencian Ombudsman: End Spanish discrimination!

„The Valencian Ombudsman urges the Ministry of Education to ban discrimination against Spanish“ reads the title of this Spanish online newspaper, showing below the triumvirate responsible for language imposition in Valencia. From left to right: the President of the Valencian Community, the Valencian Minister of Education and the Mayor of the City of Valencia.

Under the title it says, among other things, that more than 38,000 signatures support the initiative that keeps „Catalanism in the Valencian community“ in check. This initiative refers to the signature campaign by „Hablamos Español“ which I reported on 1 March.

In a quandary
Ukraine and the dilemma of Catalan separatists

The Catalan President Pere Aragonès of the separatist party ERC is in favour of supplying weapons to Kiev (Western) Ukraine and sees himself in agreement with the President of Spain, Pedro Sánchez.

There are three areas that have separated from Ukraine: Crimea and, in the Donbass, the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics. The two republics of the Donbass have been subjected to a brutal war by Kiev since their declaration of independence in 2014, which has already cost over 14,000 dead and civilians on both sides.

In 2017, all Catalan independence parties deplored the deployment of police to stop the illegal referendum for a declaration of independence of Catalonia, partly by force. Regrettably, there were a few casualties, which almost looks like a Hollywood movie brawl against the horror that has been going on for 8 years in the region of former Eastern Ukraine.

Independence from the Ukraine? NO! From Spain? YES! How does that fit together?

Almost 40,000 signatures - despite extreme obstacles!
Overwhelming!

For almost 1 year, signatures were collected in the Comunidad Valencia for a language law that respects the rights of Valencians to use their mother tongues.

The requirement for a corresponding ILP (People's Legislative Initiative) is 10,000 confirmed signatures and was exceeded almost 4 times. There are about 5 million inhabitants in the Comunidad, so almost 40,000 signatures doesn't seem like much and why did it take almost 1 year?

Just suspicion of corruption?
Profitable language imposition

In January, 230,000 euros of taxpayers' money already went to separatist organisations in Valencia that use language imposition as a means of super-nationalist indoctrination. As if that were not enough, one must also make sure that the money gets into the „right“ hands.

Ximo Puig's government gives another 200,000 euros to his brother's companies headlines esdiariom.com on 7 February and writes: „The regional Ministry of Education, led by Vicent Marzà, is granting more money to the business network of Francis Puig, who is under investigation, to promote the Valencian language.“

PSOE Valencia supports language imposition
Tax money rains on separatists in Valencia

230,000 euros in taxes are being rained down again this year by the Valencian government led by Ximo Puig (PSOE) on organisations that support separatism in which they see the Comunidad Valenciana as part of the „paises catalanes“ (Catalan countries).

Immersion in the regional languages is now to be enforced not only in schools but also with families at home. „Our students go to schools, use our(?) language, and when they come home they stop using it.“ outraged the Valencian Minister of Education Vicent Marzà of the Valencian Compromís party, which is extreme nationalist.