Open letter to Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament

Dear President of the European Parliament,

My name is Joan Aguilar Fargas and I am a Catalan citizen. I was born in Reus, Catalonia, I lived for ten years in Barcelona and currently I am pursuing my second master’s degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA. I am an engineer by training and, similar to many others in Spain, I had to go abroad to advance in my professional career. I do not know what will happen in the future, but I plan to come back one day and help build a better Catalonia and a better Europe.

I have always considered myself to be respectful and tolerant with others, and I have always been open to dialogue and willing to be convinced. This is the only way I know of solving problems and misunderstandings. It is the system in which I was educated and the one I blindly stand for.

As you surely have noticed by now, I am a Catalan “separatist” or “nationalist”, as some may say. I actually prefer the term “pro-independence” as it conveys a much positive message and it cannot be used to mislead a discussion. In any case, I would like the people of Catalonia to have a country of their (our) own. Believe me when I say, though, that I wish I were a “unionist” today so that I could send you the exact same letter without raising suspicions.

In the last few hours Alejo Vidal-Quadras, your parliament’s vice-president, appeared in a televised debate in which he made really unfortunate comments. For instance, he requested the Spanish government and specifically Spain’s vice-president to use the Guardia Civil (a police force with military status) to override Catalonia’s own police force (Mossos d’Esquadra). Although put in the context of his speech these words may not be as alarming as they sound, Mr. Vidal-Quadras’ full argumentation and lines of thought are of an unprecedented gravity. He basically favors the suppression of Catalonia’s government independently of what Catalans want and say (he explicitly said it does not matter if people rally in the streets as 1.5 million people did two weeks ago because they will eventually get tired).

I would like to make a quick point about the rally that took place on September 11^th. 1.5M out of 7M Catalans peacefully rallied in the streets of Barcelona. This ratio is not considered to be enough proof of willingness by some people like Mr. Vidal-Quadras, whereas a lower ratio was significant when we rallied against Iraq’s war several years ago. One thing is true, though. Mr. Vidal-Quadras has been consistent and he actually did not listen (as a member of the Popular Party in Spain, the governing force at the time) to the Spanish people then either and supported (directly or indirectly) that immoral war. I know some people within the Popular Party in Spain did not support it, and he may be one of them, but that is not enough when human lives are at stake.

While Catalans and Spaniards are used to this sort of comments that try to jeopardize our young democratic system, lately things are getting worse. It is not just self-acclaimed journalists in talk shows of dubious reputation fighting for audience anymore. Military personnel (officers and even military unions) have expressed their concerns about the process of the (democratic) transition undergoing in Catalonia and have threatened in public interviews and statements with a military intervention. Now, the vice-president of your parliament is demanding to suppress Catalonia’s government based on a law that is simply unfair and reminiscent of the totalitarian and colonial times my parents and grandparents had to live in. Not only it is unfair in itself, because it tells the different regions things must be done ultimately in the way the central government dictates, but applying it (if Mr. Rajoy were to follow Mr. Vidal-Quadras advise) would go against one of the most fundamental rights a group of people can have: self-determination. The Catalan government has decided to hold a democratic referendum, something that is forbidden in Spain nowadays. Just that.

As a politician you well know that current politics is done with negotiations and strategy, at least among some European countries. Even if Spanish law could be strictly applied, everyone knows (except for Mr. Vidal-Quadras it seems) that this is by no means the solution to the problem. The solution is in fact very simple in the 21st century: allowing a democratic referendum to be held and listening and respecting the decision of the Catalan people (to which Mr. Vidal-Quadras belongs, by the way). While one may agree or not with the appropriateness of insisting in having a country and the freedom to do and undo as we wish, we must all agree that this does not change the reality: according to many polls the majority of Catalans support the independence of Catalonia and even more people support the right to self-determination.

I am writing to you to formally request the dismissal of Mr. Vidal-Quadras, or alternatively to start negotiating his resignation if you do not have direct power over the vice-president. The reason is that the European Parliament cannot afford to have a vice-president that not only does not support a democratic referendum but also opposes to it based on laws that are anti-democratic and by proposing measures that would create a much higher tension and serious conflict within the borders of the European Union. Honestly, I do not know what Mr. Vidal-Quadras accomplishments have been during his mandate in the European Parliament (after all I never had a chance to elect him or yourself, nor the rest of representatives) and his may have been great ones. In any case, we all know no one is irreplaceable nowadays.

On the other hand, I would like to express my profound concern about the public statements made by Spanish military officers and associations threatening the Catalan people (including myself) with a violent intervention of our land. I am absolutely aware that these voices represent a minority, but this is to me the most striking sign that something is really wrong in Spain and therefore in Europe. How is it possible that being these individuals and associations a minority no action has been taken, no public statements by Mr. Rajoy or the King of Spain have been made, and no dismissals or resignations have occurred? How is it possible that in this Europe that boasts about being the standard of democracy and protecting their citizens, wherever they may live or come from, no action has been taken and no investigation has been opened, as far as I know?

I encourage and ask you to take appropriate actions and not to forget that this Europe that we are building and trying to rescue will not mean anything if along the way basic ethical questions are given the wrong answer.

Yours sincerely,

Joan Aguilar Fargas

P.S. I felt the need to circulate this letter among my friends and acquaintances, in order to start a constructive discussion and with the hope the word will spread. I hope you do not mind.