I interviewed Sergi Marcén in March. Instinctively, I almost always abhor any idea of secession anywhere in the world. My assumption is that today’s global trend is not conducive for small nations breaking away from a larger union unless it is to become part of a larger entity. Secession can shatter the peace, bringing bloody conflict with tragic consequences. But I am an open-minded person, however, and like to hear all sides before I make up my mind and so I set off to visit the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to the UK and Ireland, to speak to its representative.
The delegation’s offices are in Fleet Street, famous as a business thoroughfare in the Middle Ages and more recently as the home of British national newspapers. Sergi Marcén greeted me with a warm smile and a firm handshake. I got the impression that this was a friendly and down to earth man with whom I might disagree, but nevertheless get along.
Most of the national minorities who call for independence that I know, are those who feel they are being oppressed and are not benefiting from a fair share of the riches and resources. What puzzled me about Catalonia is that they don’t seem to be oppressed. They are a prosperous nation, have a sound economy and have done pretty well from being part of Spain. So why take the risk to rock the boat?
