Not only possible, but also necessary
There are still those who maintain that the independence of Catalonia from Spain is not possible. However, the independence of Catalonia is not only possible from an economic, legal and political point of view, but it is absolutely necessary for the people of Catalonia and also for Europe and the world.
It has been argued that Catalonia is too small to be viable as an independent state. Nevertheless, in Europe, the countries with the highest per capita income are relatively small. And Finland, a country in the European Union with a population of 5.5 million, less than Catalonia, this year has been named the happiest country in the world for the second year in a row, according to the World Happiness Report of the United Nations.
From the economic point of view, it is clear that with the elimination of the large fiscal deficit with the Spanish state of 8% of the annual gross domestic product (GDP) on average, even if state structures that have not existed until now have to be paid for, the gain would be considerable. Nobel laureates such as G. Becker, E. Kydland and J. Stiglitz have stated the economic viability of the Catalan state. On the contrary, remaining part of Spain supposes serious economic damage for Catalonia. The plunder exemplified by the big fiscal deficit of more than 16 billion euros each year is progressively impoverishing it.
With regard to international law, the right of nations to self-determination is recognised in the Charter of the United Nations. Spain ratified it and also the international covenants where the right of peoples to self-determination is enshrined. And the Spanish Constitution in articles 10.2 and 96 obliges respect for ratified international agreements. And also quite clear is the will of the Catalan people to self-determine. In the past decade, we have seen the largest demonstrations in Europe in recent times in favour of independence, while successive elections to the Parliament of Catalonia have been won by the parties which declared for independence. Moreover, a democratic referendum was held on October 1, 2017, in which 90% of the votes were in favour of Catalonia’s independence from Spain.
And in accordance with this will expressed at the polls, the Parliament of Catalonia proclaimed the independence of Catalonia on October 27, 2017. It was a unilateral proclamation, but there are many cases. A recent example would be Kosovo, which is already recognised by the vast majority of European Union states.
Finally, there are those who say that the independence of Catalonia is not possible because Spain is too strong. And so far the repression against the Catalan people has had some effect and contradictions have been accentuated within the independence movement. But the outdated Spanish imperialism has shown its weakness because it cannot offer anything better to the Catalan people than colonial repression, impoverishment and cultural genocide. In addition, nowadays Spain is in a very weak economic situation, which has its roots not in Covid-19 but above all in the structural inefficiency and corruption that characterise it.
On the other hand, if Europe continues to tolerate the anti-democratic and dictatorial behaviour of Spain, which has carried out massive human rights violations in Catalonia, denounced by many international entities and observers, the European Union, which is based on democracy and human rights, will disintegrate. Therefore, the independence of Catalonia is not only absolutely necessary for the Catalan people, but also for the European Union and all democrats.