Political parties

About 42 per cent of Catalans are in favour of independence from Spain, according to one opinion poll I saw recently. The figure is now probably higher because the latest opinion poll says that the pro-independence parties will win in the Catalan elections later this month. But still the Spanish government refuses to listen to their views. The Partido Popular of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said that there will be no independence for Catalonia, but with half the population wanting to break away he could at least listen to them. This is one of the biggest problems with the Partido Popular. They do not listen to anyone. It was one of the reasons they were ejected from power in the Balearics in May and it could be one of the reasons why they lose power at the next general election later this year. 100,000 people marched through the streets of Palma saying that they were opposed to the Partido Popular’s three-language teaching programme two years ago. But no one in the government was listening. In Madrid Rajoy will not listen to Catalonia. He didn’t listen when thousands of people were losing their homes as the recession hit Spain hard, and for not listening he risks being ejected from office. It is quite incredible: four years ago the Partido Popular won landslide victories both in the Balearics and in the general elections in Spain. They have already been ejected in the Balearics and Madrid could follow.