It was the leader of the Popular Party of Catalonia, MP Alejandro Fernández, who coined the term “perroflautisme contemplative” to refer to Catalonia’s “no” to everything.
It is a social minority that has been imposing its concerns on the majority for years against any project that achieves progress and development in the region. Behind this minority stand leftist parties and social organizations, especially in the field of environmental protection.
Without going any further, Catalonia has become a region where a big project like the Hard Rock Cafe can bring down a government. Or where the left mobilizes against a Formula 1 show right after Madrid snatches the competition from Barcelona and all the millions of investments that entails.
The same one that just a few days ago carried out an attack on tourist families dining on the Rambles, prompting the international press to advise against Barcelona as a destination this summer.
This week we have seen new examples of how Catalonia is acting from nothing to everything (or contemplative periflotism).
The minority wins by obstructing major projects.
The Catalan government has almost finished the pilot offshore wind park project on the Costa Brava. It will consist of three wind turbines, a 25-kilometre buried submarine cable and a 16-kilometre ground evacuation line. Although the ground evacuation line will be 100% buried, unions such as the Farmers’ Union and the European Rescue Council-ruled Armentera city council have called for a protest.
Another, more egregious case is that of the small solar park planned for Das, a town in the Catalan Pyrenees. Although the project covers only 2.4 hectares, it has been rejected by local institutions in the face of the sector’s uncertainty. The installation has been described by the region’s mayors as “wild,” while companies looking to invest see it as a coordinated boycott.
Worst of all, these movements promoted by a minority end up reducing investments in Catalonia. This not only leads to the loss of millions of euros and thousands of jobs, but also means that Catalonia is relegated to the status of a development pole and economic engine.
Most citizens are affected
This has direct consequences for the majority of citizens. The clearest example is the so-called nuclear blackout. According to information, the closure of nuclear plants in Catalonia, which was the main banner of the environmental left, would jeopardize supplies and lead to an increase in electricity prices.
This is because nuclear energy represents 60% of the electricity generated in the region. The irony here is that closing the nuclear plants would suddenly end Catalonia’s energy independence, which would have to import energy generated in other communities.
This is a huge contradiction, considering that the vast majority of these parties and organizations revolve around independence.
Another paradox is that the parties behind “no” to everything (ERC, CUP, and the Commons) were the most punished in the last Catalan elections. Despite their diminishing social support, they continue to hinder projects and harm economic development and job creation.
The ones who end up suffering are the majority of Catalan citizens, who remain at the mercy of the whims of this minority.
“Infuriatingly humble social media buff. Twitter advocate. Writer. Internet nerd.”
