Catalonia Sets Sail

Catalan president Artur Mas again used sailing metaphors to describe the situation that Catalonia is living as “a country that, so to speak, is setting sail,” and warned that, in the democratic process underway, there will be “obstacles of all kinds.” “There will be people who will make everything possible so that the ship does not follow its course,” said Mas, who has urged citizens to be “aware that the voyage has to be made.” Mas defined Catalonia as a country “that ardently supports the rule of law,” with an open mentality and the willingness for “dialogue and consensus.”

“If the people are aware that this voyage must be made, we will make it.”

Artur Mas spoke these words from a very becoming location—the Drassanes Reials (the old royal shipyards), which were reopened after a restoration. Mr. Mas used sailing metaphors repeatedly to refer to Catalonia’s democratic process towards independence. Mr. mas compared a boat setting sail to Catalonia, and warned that this “will not be easy at all.” "There will be obstacles of all kinds, there will be winds ahead, there will be very big waves, even raging waves,’’ said Mr. Mas, who summed up thus the idea that “there will be people who will do everything so that the ship does not reach its destination.”

According to Mas, the character of Catalonia, a country which he has defined as an ardent supporter of laws and rules and with willingness for dialogue and consensus, will be fundamental for the success of the process. These features are in the DNA of Catalonia, Mas stated, thanks to the mentality of traders and industrialists which transformed it into the leader of the Mediterranean in the Middle Ages. Beside the President was the Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias.

 

Same article in Italian