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Vicent Partal

08.07.2014

Should we rethink the question?

Yesterday Iceta proposed a new question for the referendum. A question that makes no sense and which got no traction whatsoever. But, from where we stand, a good six months after the question was first announced, I think it's time to consider if it makes sense keeping the same question that was agreed on. Or if the situation has changed enough to warrant proposing a different one.


Seven months have gone by since the question was made public. And I believe that things have gotten much, much clearer since then. The "third way" is simply a nonexistent path. The Spanish State has absolutely no interest in making an offer. Duran, in addition, has been unable to get them to pay him any attention and the theoretical supporters of the third way no longer hide their obvious disappointment. At this point, in fact, I don't think Unió would have any trouble with a clearer, more direct question. Duran is no longer capable of blocking it. I couldn't say if Iniciativa continues to consider the presence of a "Yes-No" option to be a key element of the question in order to be a part of the consensus. And in addition, the new players, Podem and the socialists who are no longer part of PSC will also want to put in their two cents.


But, considering all that, I share the opinion expressed by Vicenç Villatoro: wouldn't it be better to change the question and vote directly on independence, Yes or No?


Technically, legally, there is no problem. The current question is nothing more than a political agreement among parties. And if the same parties come to new agreement, they could change it. The question agreed on in December, in fact, has already played its role: clearing up the Catalan political scene. But hasn't it done its job? Personally, I think that the only condition would be keeping the unity of the original signers. If that can be done, why not change the question and make it more clear and direct?


We should keep in mind that Scotland's first proposal for a question had three answers and it was changed to the current question, which only has two. Voting yes or no on independence is much more clear from an international point of view and would avoid contentious interpretations. I insist: possible Yes-No voters already know that there is no path worth exploring with the State. And that they would actually be voting No.

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