Elections in Cataluña/Catalonia 27 September

[Velasco]

Hi. There's no issue with a single thread. To the contrary, this election is relevant enough to deserve its own discusion. The point to merge it in the Spain's general thread was only convenience, as Crab said. There's no enough people interested in Spanish affairs on here, which is not strange given that this is an Anglo forum. I have neither the time nor the interest to follow the Catalan and the Spanish campaigns -basically real life concerns, besides political affairs weariness-, but I'm lurking on this board once a week or so. Just a couple of tips:

Interview with Junts pel Sí (proxy) candidate Raül Romeva (Hardtalk, BBC September 9)

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34197413

Average polling at Electograph

Together for Yes (Junts pel Sí) 40.2%

Ciutadans (C's) 14.9%

Catalunya Sí que es Pot 11.7%

PSC 11%

PP 9.6%

CUP 6.9%

UDC 2.8%

http://www.electograph.com/p/encuesta-de-encuestas-cataluna.html

[Velasco]

Catalunya si que es pot is basically Podemos and the United Left of Catalonia.

Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds (ICV) + Podemos + EUiA (IU in Catalonia) + independents

Some people tend to forget that ICV and IU are different organisations since 1997. ICV and IU/EUiA run together in Catalonia -as well in Spanish and EU elections- since 2003, but they are just an electoral coalition.

It's interesting your explanation, Simfan. Personally, the independence "drive" or "process" makes me feel tired and bored. Rather, I feel empathy with those undecided Catalans trapped in no man's land. The polarisation is reaching ridicolous levels; it's better going to the beach.   

[Velasco]

Some parties, like Catalunya si que es Pot and PSC try to discuss other politics

Yes. Furthermore, PSC candidate Miquel Iceta tries to dance to Donna Summer, Michael Jackson and Queen tunes! My personal appreciation of him has risen since I know about his passion for dancing and shaking hips. I'm speaking in all seriousness: those who criticise Iceta for dancing in this "transcendent moment" are a bunch of idiots, IMO.

http://www.eldiario.es/rastreador/VIDEO-Iceta-Queen-Michael-Jackson_6_433666641.html

[Velasco]

Beyond the singing, I think Pablo Iglesias is leaving a quite clear message:
In sum, he tries to break the independence topic with social/economic issues. So far the coalition does not seem sucessful, but I think the candidate, Rabell, is not very charismatic.

It's true that Lluis Rabell is far from being a charismatic leader. However, I'm sure there are more reasons for the apparent lack of success of the CSP. To begin with, ICV and Podemos tried to replicate the model of Barcelona en Comú in the whole Catalonia, but firstly they failed to recruit Procés Constituent leader Arcadi Oliveres. Procés, a left-wing social movement with a remarkable pro-independence leaning that was part of BComú and other "popular unity lists" in Catalonia, rejected to join CSP. Subsequently, Mayoress Ada Colau and other BComú leaders haven't been campaigning for CSP, saying that they represent a broader local coalition with elements that are not favourable to the list topped by former neighbourhood representative Lluis Rabell. Furthermore, since the local elections campaign it was clear that Ada Colau adopted a distant stance towards ICV, which the latter regretted given that they put financial resources and party infrastructure at the disposal of BComú. On the other hand, there must be other factors such as the polarisation on the 'national axis' and the slight Podemos decline in the polls.

[Velasco]

I don't agree with many of Garicano's stances, but the man is clearly competent. I have occasionally lurked into his blog, and I don't think he's a text book neoliberal. Let's say C's on the centre-right in economy (meh). Candidate Inés Arrimadas is indeed good-looking (remember that C's leader Albert Rivera used his sex-appeal in past campaigns), but that's of course irrelevant (or maybe not). If I were Catalan, I'd find myself in no man's land. Given my ideological leanings and that my stances on the 'big issue' are somewhere between the PSC and the CSP, I'd be hesitating between both. Like Julio, I despise Pedro Sánchez and find Pablo Iglesias' arrogance increasingly pushy. Catalan secessionists are ridiculous and PP represents a post-Francoist awfulness (add to this Rajoy's absolute lack of empathy). What is left over in this wasteland? Miquel Iceta and his happy dances (¡Iceta lo peta!). Like him, I believe that Catalonia and Spain must dance together. On the other hand, I know that the socialist federal project is very inconsistent. Podemos lacks one, beyond supporting the "right to decide". Such concept is equivalent to "right to self-determination" and sounds like a dialectical victory of secession supporters. Obviously self-determination is not applicable in Catalonia, but I support a referendum on independence under negotiated terms (neither PSOE nor C's are in that position, not to mention PP). In my opinion, we need serious constitutional reforms and a legal framework for situations like this (something like the Canada's Clarity Act), but I digress... 

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Did someone metion that changing the Catalan Statute and the electoral law require more votes than proclaiming the UDI in the Parliament of Catalonia? In the 2012 election malapportionment placed ERC as second parliamentary force being the third party in popular vote, at the expense of PSC (second in popular vote). Oriol Junqueras became in the official leader of the parliamentary opposition.

As for the analysis, I guess it's OK. I posted one from that Pedro J site (by Kiko Llaneras, I believe) before local elections. It was based on average polling and polls failed to predict the whole extent of Ahora Madrid and BComú surges. I don't think this is going to happen with Catalunya Si que es Pot, that's obvious. In any case, I'm unable to predict if the mass of undecided voters is going to mobilise and decide the election in one way or another. As Enric Juliana wrote in La Vanguardia a day after La Diada, the undecided (the 'silent majority') is far from being an homogeneous social body.

[Velasco]

Iceta, I think he is a good politician. But the PSC has been too ambiguous in the last years regarding almost everything.

Catalunya si que es Port: I like the original idea, but I think the candidate is not the best one and their campaign seems faded.

CUP is doing a very coherent campaign, if one is independentist.

It's clear that the main handicap of the Catalan Socialists is their ambiguity. PSC has been stricken from various sides. Firstly, political infighting provoked by the divisions caused by the 'process'. Much of the PSC's Catalanist faction is now in the ERC environs. Secondly, differences between PSC and PSOE on the territorial model and calling a referendum in Catalonia. Nowadays there's an apparent good tune between Miquel Iceta and Pedro Sánchez, but it's highly dubious the differences on the Catalan question are completely solved between the sister parties. Lack of clear definition is the natural consequence of all this.

Catalunya Si que es Pot is not lacking of inconsistency, but at least the coalition components have a common stance on the "right to decide", that is their lowest common denominator on the 'big issue'.

Indeed, the CUP people is far more consistent in their stances than the colorful sample of leftists in the JPS: Oriol Junqueras and ERC, the proxy candidate Raül Romeva (formerly in ICV), Carme Forcadell (formerly in ERC), Muriel Casals (formerly in ICV), people coming from PSC or songwriter Lluis Llach (top candidate in Girona).

In Barcelona local elections, the CUP already made inroads in certain left-leaning middle-class radicalised Catalanist sectors; those whom can't stand neoliberal Artur Mas. Further transfers are not inconceivable, even though polls indicate that the CUP is on the same level of support reached in May elections. Obviously Junts pel Sí has been carefully avoiding other issues than independence. They have the advantage of being the useful option for secessionists and count with the support of powerful and well-organised civic associations (mostly ANC and Ómnium). We'll see. 

[Velasco]

And what about UDC? They really seem out of place. No more Ritz for Duran i Lleida.

Polls say they're in the margins of survival. If UDC gets 3% in Barcelona province, the threshold to win seats in the Parliament of Catalonia, the Duran i Lleida party is still alive. Otherwise, they are dead. Personally I would prefer they get in, because that would suppose a weaker secessionist majority. On the other hand, it wouldn't be a great pity: Duran i Lleida's UDC is as corrupt as Artur Mas and Jordi Pujol's CDC.

[Velasco]

Interview with Podemos 'indian chief' Pablo Iglesias:

http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/09/24/inenglish/1443088078_061646.html

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Mariano Rajoy faces some problems in a campaign tour:

http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/09/23/inenglish/1442993930_694475.html

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[Velasco]

According to a TV programme, the polls (which are still being done but not published) suggest that UDC can survive and get in.

You forget there's a Catalan country called Andorra. You know, that singular anachronism plenty of duty free shops. El Periodic d'Andorra will release a GESOP poll, so stay tuned.

http://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/46528/el-periodic-dandorra-publicara-dema-lenquesta-electoral-del-27s

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[Velasco]

I agree partially with you, Nanwe, especially on the need of an "appealing narrative". I would add appealing Catalans imply an emotional approach, miles away from the void legalism wielded by the so-called 'unionists'. In other words: we, in the rest of Spain, need to be more empathic. You are right in saying that the Spanish right has not broken completely with Franco, while a certain left seems to be embarrassed with the word "Spain" -less now than before, see Pedro Sánchez and his big flag; or, believe it or not, the very Pablo Iglesias-. As for borrowed concepts -it is indeed a fault usual in the Spanish left- consider the word "Unionist". It's important, because certain secessionist narrative encourages a simplistic division in two camps:  a "fascist unionism" vs separatism, which of course aims to free peripheral peoples from the Spanish oppression. The very word is another dialectical point scored by separatists and hides a reality: there's not a single concept of Spain. At least, people in the left who is not separatist is often more prepared to admit that Spain is not an univocal reality. While I regret Pablo Iglesias' vagueness in a number of issues -including what kind of territorial model supports Podemos- he's absolutely right stressing things like this:

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I hate the expression "Spanish State" -it was used by Franco, btw-, but Iglesias is right in saying that Catalonia is "a different country" in many regards. Miquel Iceta, on the other hand, says that he wants Catalonia being recognised as a "nation" in the Spanish constitution. Why the idea of admitting diversity, and even the existence of countries or nations within Spain, is so difficult to accept for so many people?     

[Velasco]

@andi: Apart from it being a wealthy net contributing region (which is of course important), what is the point of trying to keep Catalonia in Spain? They aren't really Spaniards in any meaningful sense (and will probably eventually leave anyway), wouldn't it be better just to divorce now in an amiable way and then cooperate based on two different, but kindred nations?

My opinion is that the sentence in bold letters is false from several points of view. You should make clear what means being Spaniard in your view, or at least consider what is the origin of Spain as political entity.

Said this, I don't think the political entities called "nation-states" are built to last forever.

[Velasco]

If you make round statements like "Catalans are not Spaniards in any meaningful sense" and such, I don't know what do you expect. At the very least that's ignoring a complex reality existing in that society, which involves an intricate web of senses of belonging. Of course -and I can check polls for you- there are Catalans whom say they're not Spaniards at all, others say "more Catalans than Spaniards", others the same sentence in reverse order, a few "only Spaniards". Let's make clear that political causes (separatism, for instance) driven by peaceful means are legitimate and if a majority of the population wants to break (by the moment, that's not the case according to Cat Gov surveys) that would be hard to ignore.

As for hearing my reasons, I remember having stated my feelings on this subject in some old thread. Right now, I feel lazy...

[Velasco]

"The other Catalans".

http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/09/25/inenglish/1443191639_860503.html

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The article presents the opinions of several people. Flavio Carvalho, Brazilian, states being "very optimistic about the process". Paco Grande, Andalusian, regrets that "we will end up divided". Heber Arcos, Peruvian, cooled down his initial enthusiasm: “At first, independence sounded like paradise, just like they’re painting it now...” “I liked the idea of creating a country like Andorra, with more jobs, a better economy...But now, with all the government corruption, both in Madrid and here, my blinkers are off. Now I am neutral or almost against the process [of independence]. I think it’s all about serving their own interests.”

[Velasco]

Opinòmetre / El Periòdic d'Andorra

Parliament of Catalonia (135 seats)

Junts pel Sí (JpS) 62/64 seats

Ciutadans (C's) 20/21 seats

Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya (PSC) 16/18 seats

Catalunya Sí que es Pot (CSP) 12/14 seats

Partit Popular (PP) 8/10 seats

Candidatura d'Unitat Popular (CUP) 6/8 seats

Unió Democràtica de Catalunya (UDC) 5/6 seats

http://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/46559/les-forces-independentistes-aconseguirien-la-majoria-absoluta

[Velasco]

The maps will be very interesting, especially considering the theories about the rural vote being worth double that of Barcelona and Girona.

This is by no means a mandate for unilateral independence though. JxSi basically campaigned as the official Yes vote. Counting on the CUP to bolster your parliamentary majority is not going to happen, and counting on them for the popular vote says 48% voted yes. Then you have to factor in the CUP's socio-economic platform attracting hardline socialists who view independence as a secondary objective or as a stepping stone to global revolution. Why are the papers saying the opposite is true?

As you say, this result is not a mandate for the UDI. However, it says loud and clear that there's a problem that cannot be sidelined by the Spanish government resorting to legalistic formulas. It's about time for a political solution, and I can hardly foresee any that is not going through a referendum on the political status of Catalonia. Also, it seems to me quite difficult that any kind of public consultation which doesn't include the option of an independent state -as socialists pretend- is going to be acceptable for the Catalans. In any case, everything remains outstanding until a new government takes office in Madrid, after the next Spanish general election. It's obvious that this result is going to have an impact in the next general election. Podemos and PP have failed, PSC resists better than expected -although the result is not something to celebrate- and C's acheived a big success -it remains to be seen if their voters in the Metro area will support Albert Rivera or switch to the socialists or other parties in the general election-. In the meantime, tension will increase between Barcelona and Madrid and Artur Mas is going to have a hard time because the CUP doesn't want him at the head of the government. As for the CUP factor, you are right. There is a  border area between the CUP and the CSP, people who think that a new "constituent process" is easier to achieve in an independent state. The narrative on this election tends to portray two homogeneous blocks in favour and against independence, but things are a little more complicated than that. It was amusing, by the way, hearing certain political comentators in Spanish TV channels. By no means that 51.7% of the vote achieved by the rest of parties constitutes an homogeneous 'unionist' block.

[Velasco]

(unless some of the four parties below the threshold are pro as well?)

unio.cat   102.835   2,51%                  
PACMA   29.771   0,73%         
RECORTES CERO-ELS VERDS   14.388   0,35%                  
GANEMOS   1.158   0,03%                  
PIRATA.CAT/XDT   326   0,01%   

Not really, or at least not a priority. Aside Unió, there are two single-issue parties (animalist PACMA and the Pirates) and two marginal anti-austerity leftist groups that are like somebody's sect (Recortes Cero and Ganemos).

[Velasco]

http://resultados27s.elespanol.com/

There are somewhere better maps than that one?

http://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/MAPA-distribuye-voto-independentista-Catalunya_0_435356948.html

This one shows the support by municipality for pro-independence parties. They got more than 50% in 85% of them. Keep in mind that Catalonia has nearly 1,000 municipalities and many have less than 1,000 people. The bulk of the population is concentrated in Barcelona Metropolitan Region and coastal areas, which appear in lighter shades. It's impressive the support for separatists in certain inland regions, sometimes called "the deep Catalonia". They're already"disconnected" from Spain, speaking in psychological or sentimental terms.

As for the results in the Metro area, it's also impressive that C's came first in many municipalities that once were PSC strongholds, including l'Hospitalet (second Catalan city in population). PSC resists as first party in Santa Coloma and Cornellà while PP comes second in Badalona (third city in population), were candidate Xavier García Albiol was mayor until recently. The best places for C's in Catalonia are Vila-seca (35.8%) and Salou (32.7%), both located near Tarragona.

Pro-independence Ara makes the following calculation on the 'plebiscite':

"Yes": 47.75% (Jps and CUP)

"Yes/No": 11.45% (CSP and UDC)

"No": 39.17% (C's, PSC and PP)

"Others": 1.12% (rest of parties)

It's a curious interpretation of the results, based on the informal consultation held in November. Ara columnists talk about a "clear victory" with "a lot of work to be done", "perseverance", etcetera.

As Jordi Évole, a popular TV conductor who is from Catalonia, says: "The saga continues". 

[Velasco]

Some curious municipal results, courtesy of Ara.

More separatist municipalities:

l'Esquirol (roll 1,727): JxSi 78.45%, CUP 13.15%, UDC 1.8%, CSP 1.73%, PSC 1.54%, PP 1.35%, C's 1.35%

Sant Julià de Vilatorta (roll 2,275): JxSi 83.55%, CUP 6.88%, UDC 2.04%, C's 2%, PSC 1.91%, PP 1.81%, CSP 1.58%

Santa Maria d'Oló (roll 836): JxSi 77.16%, CUP 12.35%, C's 2.52%, PSC 2.26%, UDC 2.26%, PP 1.46%, CSP 1.2%

Less separatist:

Badia del Vallès: (roll 10,561):  PSC 27.36%, C's 25.21%, CSP 17.92%, PP 11.07%, JxSi 9.6%, CUP 5%, UDC 0.94%

La Llagosta (roll 9,609): C's 25.66%, PSC 25.07%, CSP 15.64%, JxSi 14.83%, PP 10.81%, CUP 4.25%, UDC 1.49%

Santa Coloma de Gramenet (roll 78.746): PSC 25.29%, C's 23.49%, CSP 14.72%, PP 13.94%, JxSi 13.63%, CUP 5.57%, UDC 1.27%

More favourable to JxSi: Sant Juliá de Vilatorta (83.55%), Folgueroles (80.26%) and La Cellera de Ter (80.26%)

More favourable to C's: Vila-seca (35.76%), Salou (32.67%) and La Pobla de Mafumet (29.01%)

More favourable for the PSC: Les (28.07%), Badia del Vallès (27.36%) and Bossòst (26.89%).

Les and Bossòst are in the Val d'Aran, a region in the Pyrenees with a proper language and the less separatist area of inland Catalonia. Badia is in the Metro region.

More favourable for CSP: Badia del Vallès (17.92%), Montmeló (17.46%) and el Prat de Llobregat (17.41%)

More favourable for PP: Badalona (22.72%), Bossòst (18.66%), Godall (17.57%)

More favourable for the CUP: Monistrol de Calders (19.5%), el Pla del Penedès (17.69%), Celrà (17.65%).
 
I think the CUP came first in some tiny municipality in Tarragona province, so maybe municipalities below certain population are excluded from Ara rankings.

More categories here:

http://www.ara.cat/eleccions27s/dades/resultats/ranquing

Maps of results here, including their calculation on the 'plebiscite':

http://www.ara.cat/eleccions27s/dades/resultats/mapes

[Velasco]

Mariano Rajoy offers "dialogue" within the bounds of law:

http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/09/28/inenglish/1443448640_981485.html

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This man is definitely out of place and should resign immediately, because of his great weight of responsibility in this terrible mess. Zapatero didn't see the financial catastrophe coming in 2008 and therefore was kicked out. Mariano Rajoy has been blind, dumb and deaf while the wave was growing to become in a tsunami. Given that Mr Rajoy won't leave and his party is not going to replace him, we can only hope that the next elections will send him back to Pontevedra. In neither case PP will be able to handle this situation, so they should not obstruct any possible attempt to achieve a political solution if (hopefully) they are in the opposition next year.

Even without UDI the "process" is going to move forward, with or without Mas. Among other things, because it's the cement that integrates that colorful and disparate alliance called Together for Yes and also because the CUP will push it on different paths.

In the wake of electoral success, C's people is confident that Catalan elections will be a turning point to surpass Podemos. Apparently, they are designing a plan to defy the PP-PSOE hegemony in the next general elections.

[Velasco]

Continuing with my point about social class, it is funny how the Spanish left has tried to link the Independence movement with the "elite" and the "Catalan bourgeoisie" in order to make it seem detached from the needs of the average citizen. Actually, the true elite in Catalunya is heavily against Independence. Agreed, CiU got a lot of the support of the Catalan establishment and upper classes, but so did the PP and, more recently, C's. However, with CiU now defunct as a coalition and CDC's clearly pro-Independence stance, the wealthy elites have abandoned Artur Mas. This seems clear to me when looking at the results in the quintessential neighbourhoods of the Catalan establishment: in Pedralbes and Tres Torres, the wealthiest quarters in Barcelona and probably in the Top 10 of Spain, JxS has badly underperformed CiU+ERC+SI (Solidaritat Catalana per la Independencia) 2012 votes, garnering around 12 percentage points less, which haven't gone to CUP (which is almost non-existent there), but to the moderate and ambiguous Unió, which breaks 10% in many of these precincts (it didn't get to even 3% in the whole of Catalunya). So don't trust anyone who says that Independence is an "elite movement"; it is essentially a movement of middle class professionals, salaried workers, small businessmen and qualified workers. The elites in Catalunya, as everywhere, are perfectly content with the status quo.

I don't know if the Spanish left tries to make a point equating separatism with economic elites. In that case, that's not entirely accurate. Big elites everywhere tend to safeguard their financial interests, although you cannot discard that certain elements might be driven by, say 'patriotic', considerations.  As you say, the bulk of the support for separatism is in the catalanista middle class, which has shifted towards pro-independence stances for a number of reasons. I won't go into discussion on the 'ethnic' argument you provide. Jordi Pujol said once that everybody who resides in Catalonia is Catalan, while the CUP has been active in lobbying low income Castilian-speakers and foreign immigrants because they know that they need them in order to build a separatist majority. Let's say that people with several generations of ancestors born in Catalonia is more supportive of independence. Coming back to the elites, the results in neighbourhoods like Pedralbes and Tres Torres are not surprising at all. Those places have always supported massively conservative parties like CiU and PP. It's not strange the level of support for the UDC, which is a party in the middle of PP and CDC on the national axis and quite conservative on social and economic issues, with ties to elites and entrepeneurs. Matadepera and Sant Cugat in the Metro region are very affluent, by the way. To be precise, Matadepera is on top in the ranking of wealthiest municipalities of Spain and Sant Cugat is placed third. Other Catalan municipalities appearing in that ranking: Teià, Cabrils, Alella, Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, Premià de Dalt, Tiana, L'Ametlla del Vallès, Sitges, Sant Quirze...

http://www.lavanguardia.com/vangdata/20150520/54431341415/ranking-municipios-ricos-pobres-espana.html

[Velasco]

Vote share by comarca ('county') for the lists that have obtained representation in the Parliament of Catalonia.

[Velasco]

Really nice work, from the looks of it, the only comarca where JxS didn't win was the Val d'Aran?

Not really, but it came close. Aran was the comarca with lowest result for JxSí, it recorded the second highest for C's (the best for them was Tarragonès) and it was also the best for PSC and PP. Results from La Generalitat website:

JxSí   1.207 votes   24,72%         
C's   1.182 votes   24,21%   
PSC      958 votes   19,62%   
PP      623 votes   12,76%   
CUP      309 votes   6,33%   
CSP      259 votes   5,30%         
UDC      249 votes   5,10%      

[Velasco]

I broadly agree with your contribution. In any case, I don't want to be misunderstood; I wasn't suggesting that Catalans of Spanish descent aren't true Catalans. I was just pointing out that such voters are less likely to support Independence, something that is backed up by extensive evidence. Of course, the divide is far from being as deep as in Northern Ireland, where being of British descent (and Protestant) equates with being unionist in the overwhelming majority of the cases.

You're right about the fact that JxS polled very well in many affluent suburbs. I did point it out in my original post. Anyway, I think the type of wealth differs greatly from Pedralbes and Tres Torres to Sant Cugat and Matadepera. The former areas are home to the true bourgeoisie (with ties to the highest financial and economic spheres), whereas the latter are probably more of a upper-middle class or "petite bourgeoisie" type. I believe this is a crucial factor when understanding the different sets of results across areas that may seem demographically similar. In spite of what many people claim, the real elite or upper bourgeoisie is (generally speaking) not supportive of nationalism/separatism. This is true in both Catalonia and the Basque Country, and it is not just about economic interest, although this plays an important part as well. What many people don't know (or deliberately fail to mention) is that many of the families that make up the highest ranks of society had close ties with Franco's regime, and by and large, their symphaties still lie with an ideology that is antithetical to what Basque or Catalan nationalism spouses.

OK. It's normal that people most closely connected with other regions of Spain is less supportive of independence. Those maps from vilaweb show eloquently how parties performed in certain depressed areas in the Barcelona Metro Region, in middle class neighbourhoods like Sants or Gràcia or in affluent places like Sant Cugat or Matadepera. As you say, the latter have a slightly different sociological nature from the quintessential elite neighbourhoods of Pedralbes and Tres Torres. As for the ties between Catalan elites and the Franco regime, that is a thorny issue. Aside certain elements you mention, I suspect that other elements of the traditional Catalan bourgeoisie -where people like Jordi Pujol comes from: the botiguers and such-, lived more comfortably under Franco than their heirs would like to admit in these days, in spite of the fierce anti-Catalan stance of the regime. Furthermore, very important and revered people in Catalan culture like Josep Pla had certain sympathy for that man from El Ferrol (formerly del Caudillo). In any case, the catalanismo was a key actor in the opposition to Franco. I'm just saying that, in my opinion, the last part in your comment is a bit of a simplification.

[Velasco]

"The Rural/Urban Divide in Catalonia's 2015 election"

http://www.geocurrents.info/geopolitics/autonomous-zones/the-ruralurban-divide-in-catalonias-2015-election