The Catalan government took the decision on Tuesday to halt the dissolution of Diplocat, the political tool to carry out its foreign policy. Twenty-four hours later, the foreign minister, Ernest Maragall, has travelled to the Catalan embassy to the European institutions, whose seat is in Brussels, to give the starting shot to resume Catalan politics abroad, eliminated by article 155 and the PP government. That famous comment "Diplocat in li-qui-da-tion" from former Spanish deputy prime minister Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, said with such contempt during last year's election campaign today dogs her as another of her failed predictions. Maragall is stepping on it as he wants to reopen their offices in London, Rome, Berlin, Geneva and Washington and have them operative in two or three weeks. Within a maximum of six months, another two dozen Catalan government headquarters will be spread around the five continents.
The new government has done very well to set foreign policy among its main initial objectives following the removal of article 155. In the past, many of its political successes were to do with the necessary explanation of the political situation in Catalonia. Now, explaining first hand the democratic deficit in Spain, the violence of the 1st October and the reality of the political prisoners and exiles will be one of their roles although, obviously, not the only one. Attracting investment and acting as a logistical platform for new companies as well as making the most of the enormous strength of the Catalan brand will be in there too. Because beyond the always alarmist rhetoric from Madrid and the moving of various thousands of companies' registered offices (including all the Catalan firms of the Ibex 35), the trickle of foreign companies choosing Barcelona as a new destination is unstoppable.
That's where the future success or failure of Catalonia will lie. In the continued arrival of foreign companies, which can give solid added value, and in the opening of Catalan companies to the international market. The registered offices of the Ibex 35 companies have gone, save a few exceptions, to not return. And that reality cannot, nor should it be a reason for alarm, rather an opportunity in a more competitive market. The Catalan economy is robust and has a great opportunity despite not having a state playing in its favour and one which has avoided topics as key as railway or goods infrastructure for decades or done the minimum possible. Even so, the attraction of Catalonia keeps breaking records.
Combining politics and economics through the happily recovered embassies is as such a decision happily taken.