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Editor's Note: David Bittan Obadía is a writer lawyer, political and international issues analyst, columnist for the newspaper El Universal de Venezuela and a contributor to other media. He has participated in the World Jewish Congress and is former president of the Jewish community of Venezuela.
(CNN Spanish) - Spanish democracy has respected separatists too much. For years, in Catalonia there is a kidnapping of legality. Franco gave them a lot of rope too.
The Supreme Court of Spain issued a conviction against those who promoted separatism, violence and disrespected authority in the past. A vast majority think justice was done; others, that it has been insufficient; while separatists talk about injustice and political retaliation.
In this case crimes and not ideas have been tried. Apparently today there is a will and political consensus to impose the law.
Once the sentence was known, episodes of violence were opened synchronously with very well orchestrated mobilizations that are causing damage to the national heritage. At the same time, a series of athletes, artists and adherents of separatism have come out with speeches that promote hate and call for insurrection. Not to mention the public and unforgivable statement of the president of the Football Club Barcelona, who has used the platform of that team to politicize the sport, that will cost the Catalans not to be able to play the classic at home. For all of them I demand as Spanish to apply the rigor of the law.
European countries still do not firmly reject what is happening and do not finish setting a position that I isolated the separatists. Brussels turns a blind eye and does not deliver to Puigdemont.
What is happening in Catalonia these days is unacceptable. There is a lot of freedom for parties that do not respect the law and are undemocratic. It is important to declare their illegality and cut off their financing.
The big losers in this conflict are the Catalans. Companies will continue to move, the region will continue to lose its tourist appeal and the economy will feel it in their pockets.
Quim Torra, president of the Generalitat of Catalonia, must decide if he wants to be the president of the Catalans or an activist of separatism.
Mr. Trump should also say something about the subject. However, I hope that before sending his message on Twitter, he thinks what he would do if Texas decided to unilaterally separate from the union.
Catalonia deserves to be represented, of course, by a man with a Spanish name.
Barcelona
