The CUP; rhetoric and reality

Nothing has changed following the deliberations of militants of the CUP yesterday in Manresa. The assembly reaffirmed the position of its parliamentary group: if their votes are needed to form a government, Artur Mas can not be the president. So, we have a parliamentary paradox, legitimate, that with its block, a minority can assert more importance than the majority. This fact alone should make the CUP more flexible. That is, as far as Catalonia is concerned, we are at the same point we were on Friday.

The CUP falls victim of the same error of judgment as analysts from Madrid, who still believe that they know everything about Catalan politics: seeing Artur Mas as the embodiment of an administration they dislike. They want another president, as if by replacing him they could reverse the policies they do not like, including the alleged privatisations and the famous cuts. With what money can this change in policy be brought about, if the government has its finances controlled and has to beg to pay for services? To see Catalan politicians humiliated to be able to pay people, does that not make the CUP aware?

The CUP argues that it does not want early elections and denies stalling. But words are one thing and facts are another. You can not stonewall 62 deputies and then say if anything goes wrong it is their fault. The CUP will continue negotiating. Perhaps they should ask themselves exactly how, but not from a position of rhetoric, but by examining the effect of their conduct on the future of the country. Politics is also the art of the compromise.