Dave T wrote:An interesting
Living in Spain – Andalucia – Ive been following developments in Catalonia and my partner, Ana, has many contacts in the region who have been sending her video updates of what is going on. The power of the social media in practice! It seems that the actions of the Guardia Civil today of raiding polling stations and confiscating ballot boxes was fully anticpated by the Catalan authorities who devised all manner of ruses to get around the restrictions. At the time of writng today – about midday – some 1000 or the 2300 polling stations have been sealed off by the Guardia Civil – but voters are still able to vote at other stations not closed down since their voter registration details can be checked against a universal register cleverly made accessible over the internet in advance Dave T is right to condemn the poison of nationalism – although we should not forget the spanish nationalism of those who want Catalonia to remain in Spain. However the issue is a bit more complicated than just one of nationalism For many voters it seems the issue has become one of democracy and freedom of expression. Rajoy I believe has blundered badly in declaring the whole exercise illegal and has incurred the wrath of even those who would have voted against independence. It is a miscalculation that could cost him and his government dearly come the next election