> _“With the international press playing a misleading ‘neutral’ role in all of this, when not tacitly acknowledging Catalan independence as a just cause, […] I often feel frustrated when well-intentioned friends of mine outside Spain ask me about the situation here. […] I lament that the picture my friends are forming in their heads is that Barcelona is a new Tiananmen Square and Spain some kind of banana republic, and that the separatists are fighting for basic human rights against an authoritarian state.”_
— your truly, six years ago.
If you're confused or curious about what just happened in #Spain with regards to #Catalonia, [this summary written in 2017](https://tripu.medium.com/referendum-e53331ddf841) might be useful.
Spain is, by the way, arguably [a healthier and most robust democracy than the US, Israel, Belgium, Italy, Portugal or South Korea](https://pages.eiu.com/rs/753-RIQ-438/images/DI-final-version-report.pdf).
I can't find a good summary in English of the events of the last decade or so culminating in yesterday's investiture. Perhaps these two:
* https://www.ft.com/content/bff2ffeb-f17b-421a-acd0-4d3895a0ce6b
* https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/16/pedro-sanchez-wins-second-term-spain-pm-catalan-amnesty-deal
And for an overview of the different perspectives on this:
About the relative quality of Spanish democracy 😄 I know, it's always complex and contingent. I wasn't using any one country as the touchstone of democracy, and I didn't mean to say that _The Economist_ is some kind of oracle. But I like to cite this report and others that, together, put #Spain among the ~15% best countries in the world, just to counter stereotypes about this country being some kind of repressive regime.
@tripu Hmm, so the gouvernment that brought you good things for the people (like menstruation is recognized as a reason to not work) is still in place. I heard nothing negative about them in terms of caring for the people, please correct if i am wrong.
As to the amnesty, i don't have much information of what exactly is forgiven. The only violence i heard of is in the second article, "angry and violent clashes between police and fascists and neo-fascists", so not the catalans. An amnesty seems a good idea to keep the peace, fascists will never keep peace anyway. And well, if it goes through, it does prove your point of Barcelone not being a new Tiananmen Square.
Thank you for the info!
@admitsWrongIfProven
'The only violence i heard of is in the second article, “angry and violent clashes between police and fascists and neo-fascists”, so not the catalans.'
Yes, no Catalans were demonstrating in Madrid these days, obviously. The Guardian labels everyone clashing with police as fascists, but simply stupid. The police are being investigated now for responding too strongly... following government orders. Who are the fascists? Why do you believe those reports so easily?
@tripu I am confused as to what is happening now - i have not heard any news about this. What is happening? A new referendum? A call for one? Accusations of state brutality?
Btw, "more robust than us, israel, ..." is not saying much. This from someone living in germany, haha.