How does the Catalonia and Spain situation portray European governments?

The ongoing struggle between Catalonia and Spain has divided an already politically instable country, and furthermore it raises questions about Western governments that perhaps we may not have previously considered – just how controlling are they?

Spain claims the independence referendum that took place at the Start of October isn’t in the Spanish Constitution that has been in place for almost 30 years - thus making it illegal and invalid. That may be correct but does that mean the protestors have no right to stage a vote despite this?

You might argue yes, it’s against the law, and mass congregations of people all over the state, including cities such as Barcelona, could be seen as a major threat to the security of people residing there.

And you could say that the shock has somewhat been caused just by the result - though that was after the police had intervened, and many ballot boxes were seized, so we don't really know how accurate it was.

However, on the other hand, these protestors are only exercising their free right – to vote. I mentioned previously that many people in ‘third-world countries’ such as those in Africa, are ones without the simple right to vote.

If you used the example of Spain, you would assume that European countries suffer from the same dictatorial nature as those in Africa. Yet we do not.

And this is precisely why this supposed ‘oppression’ by the Spanish government (the violence that ensued in the aftermath of the referendum) has come as such a shock to us.

In our culture, so close to home, we wouldn’t have expected such a mess like this one.

It is understandable in ways why the Spanish government has acted like they did. For so much of the Spanish wealth emanates from Catalonia, and after the Great Spanish Depression in 2008 (of which the effects are still felt now), they can scarcely afford to be stripped of any more wealth.

Much of Spain is plain land, that isn’t fit for crops and the subsequent wealth that comes with it, the sweltering summer heat is another factor in this. This renders lots of parts of the country effectively useless in terms of money-making.

But although I can see the reason for the force used, they feel they have to step in, the way they went about preventing it became a bit excessive, and through the power of social media, portrayed them in a bad light to the rest of the world – hence the overwhelming support for the Catalans who want independence so vociferously.

It is only right that people have freedom of speech and expression, after all I have said previously about governments in general I would be a hypocrite to not support the Catalans in their attempt for a fair vote.

Seeing pictures of civilians harmed in the days after the illegal referendum only make you think further about the fact that these are innocent people, just looking to get their fair vote.

Evidently there is no conclusion to this saga in sight for now, but what ideally happens now?

From the viewpoint of any Spaniards, for the whole debacle to be brushed under the carpet would be the best and most beneficial solution.

One would hope that the Spanish government relents, from a democratic point of view that is.

Because if they do, that may be the clearest distinction yet that Western European governments are some of the fairest around.