Government stability remains a significant aspect of a country's socioeconomic performance. For many years, the Spanish government has experienced a period of relative political stability. However, in 2017, the government's well-being faced the first significant test in many years. Catalonia's drive for independence plunged Spain into one of its most significant political problems in over four decades. The pro-independence supporters from Catalonia organized a referendum to drum to drum up support for their region's autonomy. However, in 2019, the Supreme Court politicians sentenced the Catalan activists and politicians to lengthy sentences with others receiving fines. In the illegal referendum annulled by the courts, over 90% of the voters backed the quest for independence (Pellistrandi, 2018). Scholars believe that the Catalan crisis is not an isolated event. So long as the dissident voices exist, Spain is doomed to a long-term political crisis that will affect its stability.
Khenkin (2019) describes the Catalan conflict as intractable. The parties involved in the rivalry do not seem to come to a resolution. The Spanish Socialist Worker's Party wants a system of federalization with compromise as the basis of a solution. The People's Party and Ciudadanos support the enactment of tough prohibitive measures. As illustrated by Khenkin (2019), "The far-right Vox party is eager to eliminate autonomies and go back to the unitary state of the pre-Francoist Spain." Any normalization of situations wins the country will depend on the mitigation of the conflict. Scholars believe that such in-built stabilizers are doomed to exist so long as contrary opinions exist. Price (2018) asserts that the Catalan crisis is a conflict between the nationalists and the separatists. The separatists are determined to have their independence characterized by a police force and a mechanism to collect their taxes. However, this does not auger well with the central government in Madrid.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Several underlying factors have contributed to the crisis witnessed in Spain today. As explained by Khenkin (2019), Spain lacks a culture of political compromise. The author continues with the assessment by saying, "Acting upon their own ambition and electoral calculations, party leaders, prove to be incapable of striking pact deals and carrying out coalition policies" (Khenkin, 2019). Many divergent views on how to solve the crisis have further contributed to the state of confusion. The alternative points of view are mainly prohibitive and have no meaningful way of guaranteeing a long-term solution. Furthermore, the conflict in Spain has attracted national interest mainly from the European partners. Countries such as the French have shown their unwavering support to the interests of the national government. According to Brunet (2018), Catalonia's attempts to secede are a serious breach of the law and constitutional order.
In conclusion, so long as the dissident voices exist, Spain is doomed to a long-term political crisis that will affect its stability. The Spanish government remains in one of the most significant crises of its entire existence. The quest for autonomy by Catalonia raises serious dilemmas for the Spanish government. On the one hand, it has attracted the majority support of the people. On the other hand, it raises serious constitutional and legal problems. Spain's political crisis is expected to continue in the coming years if the players involved are not ready to compromise. The central government in Madrid understands the crucial position that Catalonia occupies in the Spanish socioeconomic spectrum. However, the Catalans are determined to protect their resources and creating a culture of self-sufficiency. The sensitive nature of the conflict makes Spain a potential area of violence, chaos, and uncertainty. International partners such as France and Britain have vested interests in the political climate of the country.
References
Brunet, S. (2018, April). The Catalan Crisis in Context: Perspectives from France. In Revisiting Sovereignty in Europe? The Catalan Crisis in Context .
Khenkin, S. (2019). Political Crisis in Spain: National and Catalan Dimensions. Applied Science Reports .
Khenkin, S. (2019). Settlement of the Catalan Crisis as an Issue for Discussion and Political Struggle in Spain. Applied Science Reports
Pellistrandi, B. (2018). The Catalan Crisis: A Definitive Split. Politique etrangere , (1), 103-115.
Price, S. (2018). Resistance and revolution: Working-class intransigence, the libertarian tradition, and the Catalan crisis.
