Pro-Spain Catalans let their voices be heard at Barcelona rally

Most of the talk of the Spain-Catalonia independence issue is often dominated by secessionist voices eager for the northern region to go it alone. After all, those happy to maintain the status quo rarely feel the need to let their feelings be known so vociferously…

However, that all changed last week as thousands of pro-Spain demonstrators took to the streets of Barcelona to march against independence and reiterate their desire for a strong and unified country.

Marching under the banner “No to Independence” and “Stop the Coup”, the rally appeared to mobilise many previously meek Catalans, bringing thousands out on to the sunny streets to show their support for Madrid AND Barcelona.

What was notable was the number of demonstrators who held aloft Spanish and Catalan flags, showing an encouragingly inclusive and conciliatory mindset of the type rarely seen in today’s divisive demos and marches.

That such a display of solidarity can happen on the streets of Barcelona is likely to be met with concern by pro-independence parties, who for a long time now have seen the Catalan capital as something of a stronghold for secession.

Set up by the Catalan Civil Society, the march was the first organised demonstration by the group, which was created in 2014 to directly oppose the Catalan independence push. It is estimated that 15,000 people took part in the march, although the Barcelona City Hall has put that figure much lower, at just 6,500.

Among the voices heard on the march was that of Gloria Chicote, a 60-year-old nurse who said “I don’t want independence, I am Spanish”, while another – pensioner Manuel López – remarked that the Catalan separatist leaders had “poisoned our society” with their drive for independence.

While there are no official figures of the demographic of those involved in the demonstration, the bulk of the numbers are likely to have been drawn from the older generation. Younger Catalans are more likely to be in favour of independence, a recent poll has shown.

Catalonia’s government has no legal recourse nor mandate to call for a binding referendum, but has said that it will hold another vote later this year. Madrid, however, has said that any such vote would not be formally recognised by the government, and warned that those involved in organising such an event could face charges.