Anna Arqué takes inspiration from the process and the outcome

Because I’m Catalan and consequently have read and heard many opinions from ‘know it all’ foreign contributors about my country’s independence movement, I write these words about the Scottish independence referendum with the utmost respect.

‘The person who really wants to do something finds a way; the other finds an excuse’.

So does a country. To say that Catalan politicians may not be able to organise an official referendum because of the opposition of the Spanish state is as lame as to say that the Scottish do not hold massive rallies because of the weather; meaning, Scottish politicians dealt with Westminster’s open resistance in the same way that Catalan people march even when it’s hot enough to fry an egg on the streets. The will of both countries’ pulling forces, Scottish Government and Catalan citizenship, have successfully set a new political landscape for both Scotland and Catalonia, with no excuses, engaging Scottish society and Catalan politicians with each cause.

The SNP’s determination gave Scotland the chance to officially exercise Scottish sovereignty in front of an expectant international community. However, it must also be said that through work of many political groups and social activism not related to SNP and in many aspects opposed to government that the ‘yes’ movement became the shared ‘will’ of a plural Scottish collectiveness whose thrust is, naturally, to reach out for a different model of society than the one imposed by Westminster. An eclectic mixed of grassroots and institutional activity flourished into a ‘will’ which has shaken Scottish politics. To the disgust of many this has not damage its epicentre; on the contrary, after the referendum, the SNP has increased its membership to become UK’s third biggest political party. On top of that, Scottish politics for independence has broadened its horizons with many other milieus fighting for a new country, all of them now firmly settled into a pluralistic society increasingly aware of the benefits of an independent Scotland. A new coordinated scenario or independence is geared up to carve through many places and backgrounds. The ‘Yes’ campaign dared to believe and ‘the 45plus’ is a solid declaration of principles.

When Alex Salmond was first questioned about the lack of Scottish powers to celebrate a referendum on Scotland independence, he masterfully lived up to the definition of ‘democrat’:

‘We will find the mechanisms to bind the referendum’s result, because that is what democracy is about’.

This last sentence defined it all. I’d like to point out how this attitude was translated into Catalan politics as it may help to understand what may happen in my country over the next weeks. Many of us Catalans recognised in Salmond a statesman. Others though opted to camouflage his leadership, later on applauding Westminster’s recognition and crediting to England all merit for making the referendum a reality. Extracting the merit from the Scottish leadership and transferring it into UK, the fate of Catalan referendum was automatically chained to the Spanish state’s decision, pretending to excuse the Catalans politicians from any responsibility.

For the last two years, Catalan media, opinion makers and even government politicians have been dismissing Scottish accomplishment:

‘the reason why Scots are able to vote about the independence in a referendum is not because of Scottish politics, the reason is UK’s good will and democratic fair play’.

‘The state has the key’

was the message delivered by the status quo to Catalans, left in a cul-de-sac by knowing beforehand the Spanish state opposition. At the moment, the Catalan government faces huge pressure from the population to obey the popular Catalan mandate and we’ll see how much the belief ‘because that is what democracy is about’ is shared by our politicians.

The ‘yes’ campaign bet for a plural and inclusive approach detaching itself from an overall SNP leadership, prominent figures from the Greens, Labour for Independence, Radical Independence Campaign, social activists, artists and business representatives were invited to share the front row and there you had Patrick Harvey, Colin Fox, Kevin Williamson and Michelle Thompson next to Alex Salmond. The ‘yes’ campaign achieved what is essential in order to produce a campaign promoted from the top and conceived to convince Scottish citizens to assume the future of their country, with all its rights, duties and political responsibilities. The essential ingredient was include all Scottish voices in favour of independence, empowering the base, motivating the people to participate. After being a polling agent, the night of the referendum I was invited to be at the Edinburgh count as an accredited counting agent and witnessed the sense of ‘united, coordinated, together for the cause of independence’ as a RIC member put it. That was the spirit – a huge success to congratulate you all with.

A long campaign followed with enthusiasm by many millions of Europeans observing how the Scottish people were creating a political precedent by exercising the universal right of self determination in twenty first century Europe. With the referendum, Scottish contribution went beyond its own fight for change because you made democracy a winner and with this, you made us all win. You may even have saved Europe from its own drift on values.

The final result, though, was not what we had hoped for. Reviewing the chain of events some friends questioned if the ‘yes’ campaign was too optimistic and we should have explained that our pensions being inside UK meant they are the worst in Europe. Unfortunately, this time fear won over hope.

Questions are unavoidably raised by political analysts trying to pinpoint whether a different approach to topics such as currency, NATO, monarchy etc could have pushed the ‘yes’ vote to win (but it is well worth noting that a different approach may also have meant ‘yes’ not producing the impressive 45% for).

Remarkably, hours after result, Scottish activists filled out again the same Glasgow square where they stood for days announcing that the biggest Scottish city was ready to vote ‘yes’. Positive vibes were restored despite all, and George Square was once again full with people collecting food in a solidarity call. Change happens even when the votes don’t back up the biggest plan. Right then, we saw, Scottish independence is just waiting around the corner. Afterwards, the unionist riots made me think of Goethe’s saying ‘some people will never be ready for any change, condemned to live in the shadows as they have not learn anything at all.’

Independence is not only one electoral result. The change must happen from within and there is no doubt that Scottish ‘aye’ has started to do the walk while others got stuck with the empty talk. The ‘45’ response is invigorating evidence, a national consciousness raising ready to move forward with no looking back. The ‘45’ is the hope over fear and is just the beginning. The already uncovered three-sided unionist tricks will help with that, plus a ‘lost in translation’ labour drama strengthening the pulse on the Scottish ‘aye’ side. And last but not least, there is the daring Scottish youth who turned out to be Scotland’s solid hope. Ultimately, nothing can stop a happy combative country when young legs race with a strong but ancient heartbeat!

‘While quacks of State must each produce his plan. And even children lisp the Rights of Man’ Robert Burns.

Anna Arqué is a political activist based in Barcelona and the Spokesperson for Catalonia International Commission of European Citizens (ICEC)