Those in charge of Global Spain, the political-ideological device created by minister Borrell to try and stop the detain the independence movement's work internationally and which enjoys a significant inflow of public funds, must have had a sharp awakening this Sunday when they saw the planet's most influential newspaper, The New York Times, had dedicated a page in its print edition to talking about the Spanish monarchy, its decline and the non-binding referendums which are being held for members of the public to give their opinions on whether it should be abolished or not.
Specifically, they refer to the vote in Valldemossa, in the Balearic Islands, which was held last weekend and which is especially relevant because it's on the island of Mallorca, where the Marivent palace, the royal family's summer residence is. The king emeritus Juan Carlos I has the title of honorary mayor of the town. Although participation was limited, the US newspaper emphasises the victory of supporters of abolishing the institution of the monarchy. At the start of March, they'd published another article, that time in their Spanish edition, saying that the Catalan independence trial was a mistake.
It's very likely that the NYT has dedicated more space to the Valldemossa referendum than all the print media from Madrid and Barcelona together. It's not strange, therefore, the lack of information in Spain on this story, like other votes which have been held in many cities and, in the case of Catalonia, in numerous universities. The US newspaper writes openly of the secessionist challenge in Catalonia posed to the Spanish state where, as we know, the Catalan government has broken off relations with the monarchy and decided to not attend any events it may organise.
A recent survey by CEO (Catalan Centre for Opinion Studies) has just put the monarchy as the institution least-trusted by Catalans, scoring less than two out of 10. CIS (the Spanish equivalent) eliminated this question years ago to avoid establishing the institution's fall. And the Princes of Girona Foundation has suspended meetings in the city as they should have been held due to protests again their trips. Today, in practice, the royals can only travel to Catalonia in very special circumstances.