As far as i know, the problem on delaying 27-S to happen after the generals is on 2 factors, given a victory of psoe/podemos on spain. 1st of all is that, while P. Iglesias said that would be in favour of a referendum on Catalonia,(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZRbasBtz0s , 49:25) this only could happen with a previous reform of the Spanish Constitution. In Catalonia some keep thinking that is not needed to change the constitution for allowing some kind of consultation (the 5 ways of the “Consell assessor per la transició nacional” )and that the constitutional change would not be necessary because of the constitution itself (as said some fathers of the constitution like miquel roca: http://www.ccma.cat/324/Miquel-Roca-diu-que-ni-un-sol-article-de-la-Constitucio-impedeix-convocar-la-consulta/noticia/2191573/ ) but because of how the interpretations that have been done on the Constitutional Court and creating limits where they were not.
So, the 1st fear is the “no” to any kind of consultation until the constitution is changed.
The 2nd fear is about the change itself: can’t be done without 2/3ds of the spanish parliament, and this is seen as something nearly impossible.
So, at the end, this means “no way” to have a referendum. But are just fears, not facts.
I agree that, given the changes that slowly are happening on spain (as example, Compromis in the city of valencia) are making room to let new voices to talk in the name of spain and maybe to make new deals. and would be unfair to not let the new voices say their point.
Fears again: podemos is quite similar to psoe in the early years of democracy (when they were federalists, in favour of the right to decide..) back in the late 70’s and until 1981, before the 23-f and the Loapa.
And some say that the role that could play podemos is similar to the one that had alejando lerroux (the previous video, 47:53) in the 1st decades of xxth century, whith his “partido radical”, triying to put the focus “against the rich” (back then, the church also), diverging from the “nationality” question. That was also said by some at the begining about the role of rivera and c’s.
My feeling is that, for iglesias, this has been one of the most offensive things that have been said to him. But his answer, saying that ” the rulers are thiefs” (47:25; 48:25 ) (puting trias on the same bag as friend of pujol and mas) doesn’t help either. Mainly because, despite political decisions, is not known any corruption scandal around Trias and Mas. Hopely, this will be just campaign words. Would not be helpful that attitude for making deals.
So yes, a 3rd way could be wide open and yes, this could be the most reasonable solution, by far the most near to the scottish way, but the new actors are still very new, and the old ones are carrying also bad memories and experiences, so then fears and misstrusts. on a landscape of spanish rigid institutions.
The absence of “absolut majorities” and the needing of pacts will likely soft the language and push the pactism; the new forms seems to be more attached to open the political decisions to more participation of people, and those are always good news. Maybe the evolution of things will disperse some rudeness from ones and fears from others. Then that scottish way could be more viable. Time is short.

Thanks very much for your comments and your continued interest in the blog.

You are correct to point out that Ada Colau is an independent candidate; so is Manuela Carmena in Madrid. But both were supported by the Podemos national organization, so I thought it appropriate to use the term “Podemos-backed” rather than strictly Barcelona en Comú or Ahora Madrid. For the vast majority of readers, that would be too fine a distinction. In any event, it is a very good strategy on the part of Podemos to use local franchises rather than insist on strict orthodoxy: it is far more democratic than Podemos is given credit for in the Spanish press, but in any case, it has proven to be a successful tactic. They have won important plazas where Ciudadanos has not; that might be worthy of a separate analysis all its own.

As to Ms. Colau’s position on independence, it was my understanding that she is not openly against it, but that it is nowhere near the top of her list of priorities. Independence as an afterthought, if it can be fit into the agenda of social justice, housing reform, quality of life improvements, etc.. otherwise not. Yet the two are not incompatible: we shall soon see what her position is in any case, she won’t be able to get away from taking sides now.

In any case, my analysis is more about the crisis in CiU than the possible attitude of Ms. Colau. I know plenty of ICV people and most of them are pro-independence along with being ecosocialists (I use the term in the strictest sense, not disparagingly).

Regarding the delay to the 27-S elections…well, it’s just my opinion. I adhere to Jefferson: that governments long established should not be overthrown for light and transient reasons. I think, at the very least, a new Spanish government should be given the opportunity to participate. Just because the Populares refused all discussions, doesn’t mean a PSOE-Podemos govnerment would (or some other combination of leftist governments). The next Spanish government – assuming it is not the PP or Ciudadanos – might very well agree to a formal referendum process a la Scotland. That would surely be better than the de facto election cum referendum, wouldn’t it? They might propose a thorough reform of the ’78 Constitution with more devolved powers to the historic communities. The Catalans ought to at least hear what they have to say, don’t you agree? If the elections are held and the conservatives win, or if the a leftist government refuses to deal with the Generalitat, then what has been lost? A year? After waiting for 400? And then the case for independence is even stronger, for if Catalonia cannot negotiate in good faith with either the left or the right, what hope is there? I think, if explained in that manner, the people of Catalonia would agree to wait and vote even more strongly for sí-sí for having waited.

Regards,

Fernando Betancor

I left this URL in twitter, but it seems the url shortener did something to it.
It is a link to Ada Colau’s post on facebook about her vote on 9N

https://www.facebook.com/ada.ballano/posts/727480617332606:0