Tramping the Catalan secessionist movement under foot appears to be the Spanish government’s continuing tactic with murmurs that a fresh wave of arrests of nationalists may be unleashed. PM Rajoy stands accused of using the judiciary as a political tool. ‘The speed with which the justice system has responded to the Catalan crisis is in marked contrast to the glacial pace with which it is handling the hundreds of corruption cases involving members of the ruling Popular party.’ (Guardian). 19 of the elected candidates are in prison, on bail or in exile, and face charges that carry up to 30 years inside. An official report into the largely peaceful demonstrations organised by Catalan grassroots organisations in October described them as “sowing the seeds of hate towards the Spanish state”.
A bully-boy strategy is guaranteed to harden attitudes even amongst those Catalans who would favour a unified Spain. Memories of Franco’s dictatorial treatment of the region still rankle and there is a centuries-old dislike of Madrid in the north. Catalans versus Castilians – history never dies.
The Catalonia 11 May 1258 JC chart, is highly unsettled through 2018 with Solar Arc Saturn (forces of repression) conjunct the rebellious Catalonia Uranus; and an explosive tr Uranus opposition Mars from mid-2018 into 2019, with more emotional outbursts following.
The Spain 19 January 1479 JC chart seems to work better than the modern 1975 one. The Aquarius Sun and Jupiter in Taurus have been rattled by the 2017 Eclipses and will be again in 2018. Over confidence could be a problem ahead which what may precipitate the fast-downward slide it’ll hit from April 2018 till 2020 with tr Neptune conjunct Mars and opposition Saturn.
It poses a headache for the EU, not that they care much about democracy or secessionist movements. But relations with Spain are moving into a troubled period till 2020. In some ways more difficult than EU/UK relations. And that shows up both on the EU/Spain 1479 relationship chart as well as the EU/Spain 1975 one.
Politicians never learn. Like Palestine and the RCs in Northern Ireland. Treat them badly, when some turn violent out of frustration meet that with retaliating violence and so it escalates. When it would be perfectly simple in the case of Catalonia to give them more autonomy within a unified Spain and let it all settle down. NB: PM Rajoy was Jesuit-educated, is pro-bullfighting and has had several corruption allegations made against him all denied and found unproven by the courts. Judges are political appointees.