The Times, that is not so...

In response to The Times we offer you three different answers:

Reply to The Times editorial. “Mas Uprising”

The Times' recent editorial on the economic consequences of Catalan independence fails to give a proportionate and neutral account on what’s at stake in Catalonia. 

In summary, the editorial depicts Catalonia as a selfish and rich region trying to avoid its duties toward poor regions in a time of distress. Moreover, it states that an independent Catalonia would be poorer and more heavily indebted. 

It is understandable that in the midst of the worst economic crisis in decades, and with the euro struggling to survive, a political conflict within a European Union member-state is seen as a threat to the EU, and particularly to the Eurozone. However... read more

Elisenda Paluzie
@epaluzie
Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business
University of Barcelona

Catalonia in the International Spotlight

It seems that The Times has begun a media crusade against the possible independence of Catalonia. Two days ago the headline of its Editorial cried out that the separation from Madrid would be at least as bad [financially] in Catalonia as in the rest of Spain. A few days earlier, the same newspaper published an article by journalist Matthew Parris along the same lines, with an explosive title "Catalonia is a bigger time bomb than Cyprus".

Although it is widely known, it is worth remembering that The Times is a British newspaper of conservative bent that has Spanish ex-president Aznar of the conservative... read more

 

Elisabet Nebreda, Secretary for International Policy.Cesc Iglésies, Assistant Secretary General for Political Action
Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (pro-independence Republican Left of Catalonia)

Reply to The Times by former IMF and World Bank Adviser

Sir/Madam,

Your recent editorial, “Mas Uprising. Splitting from Madrid would hurt Catalonia at least as much as it would Spain”, asserts that Catalans would regret their independence from Spain because “[Catalonia] is also burdened with Spain's biggest debt.” However, though Catalonia has the highest debt in absolute terms (but not on a per capita basis) of all the autonomous regions in Spain, it is equivalent to only about 25% of itsGDP. This level is well below the debt limit agreed to by the countries of the European Union (60%) and is among the lowest in European countries .. Read more

Vicenç Ferrer
Former Principal Economist in the World Bank
Former Adviser in the International Monetary Fund
Fundació Catalunya Estat