Journalistically speaking, I come from a time when rulers, whatever their sphere of power, were tough politicians, very sure of themselves, ambitious in their goals and with little regard for what minorities thought. Rulers who held absolute majorities, or almost, who agreed only on what was in their interests, such as, here in Catalonia, Jordi Pujol and Pasqual Maragall, or in Madrid, Felipe González. Forty years later, Spain works more or less the same whether the prime minister is José María Aznar, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Mariano Rajoy or Pedro Sánchez. On the other hand, Barcelona has remained in a position in which it operates in a way that is more like Madrid than Catalonia: its mayor does what she wants, retains leadership in some sectors and agrees to host the America's Cup sailing trophy in 2024 without hesitation, even though it is, in part, contrary to what she stands for.
On the other hand, Catalonia always seems to be engulfed in a thick fog in which, from the government, people try to advocate for most causes very quietly, lest public opinion gets upset and the issue produces political consequences. The example of the 2030 Winter Games bid is paradigmatic and nothing is exactly what it seems. Starting with president Pere Aragonès, followed by vice president Jordi Puigneró, the whole of the government and the two parties that make it up, ERC and Junts, are in favour of the Games, as has been seen in the technical agreement they have reached with the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), on the geographical distribution of events between Catalonia and Aragon. In fact, it is Aragon's president Javier Lambán who is still protesting to see if he can get something more out of the distribution than has come his way.
If they are so in favour of the idea, why don't they say so to the Catalan public? That is the million-dollar question, although the answer likely has something to do with the fear that the consultation they have to hold in some of the Pyrenean counties ―between six and nine of them― ends in an unexpected citizens' revolt and that the initiative ends up being a fiasco. And then, who will pay for the defeat? Because this is not exactly about parties, but about a social climate that has been created, where those saying "no" are much more organized and can defend it in public, while those of "yes" try to camouflage themselves in the middle of the landscape. In essence, to put it bluntly, the government parties are not very concerned about the consequences of climate change nor whether there will be any snow. Their main concerns are to come out in support of the Spanish games and how to manage the flags and the Bourbons. Last Saturday's football match in Cornellà de Llobregat featuring the Spanish national team ended up, for the independence movement, being a premonition of what could happen in 2030. And it gives them vertigo. Seriously.
That is why the news on the Pyrenean games bid is being announced more in Madrid than in Barcelona and there are more shadows than highlights. Work is being done, but as for exactly what, that is hidden. A question is being formulated for the public consultation, and nothing is known of it. And because it is not known, the secret of which counties' residents will be consulted is maintained. Too much fear, and people perceive that if the project is not explained well, it is because it cannot be explained, that it has inexplicable aspects. But there will have to be a consultation, probably in July, the government will be involved and especially two ministries, both the presidency and also that of foreign action and open government. And I will give odds of two to one that the campaign will not be neutral, as this is not what the COE and the IOC expect. What then are they playing at?