A prominent Catalan editor has warned of a significant internal division within the independence movement, contrasting a 'bitter' political discourse in Barcelona with a 'smiling' and active Catalonia beyond the capital. The editor, writing for Vilaweb on 3 May 2026, suggested that many pro-independence supporters might have unconsciously adopted Spanish cultural traits.
The editorial describes a sense of 'bad blood' in Barcelona's headlines and comments, characterised by insults, threats, and repeated falsehoods. This contrasts sharply with a more optimistic and active spirit observed across the rest of Catalonia, where cultural events, Catalan literature sales, and sporting achievements are celebrated.
Recent setbacks, including threats to Catalan language in schools and public life, civil law, and the nation's shared identity, are acknowledged. The editor also points to issues with public transport, healthcare, and political corruption. However, he argues that allowing lament and defeatism to become the permanent editorial line for a part of the country is a greater danger than the threats themselves.
The Subtle Victory of Spanish Nationalism
The editor suggests a two-part answer to why the region with the most resources, Barcelona, appears the most desperate, while other areas with fewer resources are celebrating and fighting. The first part, according to Josep Miquel Arenas (Valtònyc), is that the most subtle victory of Spanish nationalism has been to make Catalans believe they are defeated.
Secondly, the editor believes that strictly partisan debates have monopolised the national conversation, obscuring the country's broader progress. He criticises the focus on internal party squabbles, accusations, and poll results, arguing that this narrows the perspective and prevents people from seeing the positive developments happening.
Lessons from History
The editorial draws a parallel with Stefan Zweig's final book, The World of Yesterday, written in exile in 1942. Zweig argued that Europe's most brilliant generation allowed their world to fall because they were convinced, prematurely, that defending it was naive. The editor applies this to Catalonia, suggesting that the generation behind the independence consultations, the 1 October referendum, and major demonstrations is letting its world slip away by believing defence is naive.
He warns that lucidity without will is the most elegant way to collaborate in one's own downfall. The editor expresses concern that the present era seems to be repeating the experiment that ended so badly in the 20th century, albeit with new colours.
A Smiling Catalonia
Despite the internal political struggles, the editor insists that a 'smiling' Catalonia is visible. He points to the collective joy of events like the Correllengua Agermanat, a three-week celebration of the Catalan language. He highlights the stubborn plurality of people who have not waited for permission from anywhere, encompassing diverse ages, dialects, and political views.
The editor emphasises that the Catalan language, the oldest asset, unites these people without demanding anything else. He recalls Josep Pla's insight that more politics and country can be found in the simple act of passing a torch than in fifty parliamentary debates or thousands of social media threads.
Catalans must decide which path to take. The editor argues that reproducing bitterness and extending well-written pieces of discouragement will lead nowhere. He concludes that defeat is attractive because it demands no action, allowing for pontification without construction. Victory, on the other hand, requires active participation and effort, even in challenging conditions, as demonstrated by thousands in Mallorca.
