Independence movement is ‘populist’ and a problem for Europe, says Spanish VP

The Catalan independence movement is “populist” and “tribal” and a problem for Europe, according to Spain’s vice president, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría. Talking on Thursday, Mariano Rajoy’s deputy warned that despite the efforts to build “fortress Europe,” many member states include “those who would like to impose out-dated, closed and exclusive movements that are incapable of facing the challenges of 21st century.” Sáenz de Santamaría identified the independence movement as the result of “exacerbated emotionalism in which the dictates of reason appear to take a backseat.”

 

Sáenz de Santamaría made her comments during the presentation of a talk by former French prime minister Manuel Valls. The vice president thanked Valls for putting “his energy and personal prestige at the service of liberty and harmonious coexistence.” For his part, Valls urged the German judiciary to hand over deposed president Carles Puigdemont to the Spanish authorities. “Nationalism is war,” he said, paraphrasing François Mitterrand, and he predicted that the German judges “will find no solution other than handing over Puigdemont to Spain so that he can be tried in Spanish courts.”

Valls was at the Fòrum Líders event at the EFE news agency. Sáenz de Santamaría hit out at the independence movement during her introduction of the former French PM. The vice president warned about the shoots of “populism and disinformation” growing in Europe and said that the continent is faced with the challenge of ensuring “the stability of member states and the defense of their basic values as advanced and open societies.” She also called on EU member states to govern according to the law, “because genuine democracy is born out of respect for the law.”

“Independence project a dead-end,” says Valls

Meanwhile, the former French PM agreed that the independence debate in Catalonia does not only affect Spain, because “if a nation-state like Spain is split, then Europe is also split,” he said, adding: “The independence project is a dead-end, Europe has to respect Spain, as it is a federation of nation states.” If Europe was to be split, warned Valls, “things will go back to before the First World War.” In fact, Valls accused pro-independence leaders of “becoming anti-European,” after initially arguing for an independent Catalonia in the European Union. “One can be a patriot and love Europe, but one cannot be a nationalist and love Europe,” he said.