Nicola Sturgeon pushes independence again at COP 26
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Scotland’s First Minister met the Catalan President on Sunday during a brief, 30-minute audience to discuss shared goals and common interests in climate policy. However, much of the discussion appears to have veered off into other topics, including Scotland’s support for the cause of Catalan independence. President Aragones thanked the Scottish people for their solidarity during Catalonia’s “most difficult days”, referencing the political repercussions that followed Catalonia’s 2017 independence referendum.
On October 1, 2017, the people of Catalonia overwhelmingly voted in favour of seceding from Spain (92 percent).
However, the Spanish courts had ruled the referendum unconstitutional, sparking a brutal crackdown on political figures and protesters who took the streets.
The Spanish autonomous region in the northeast of Spain has long struggled to gain independence – a cause that has been strongly supported by Ms Sturgeon and the SNP.
Mr Aragones, who became Catalonia’s President in May this year, said the meeting with Ms Sturgeon had been “interesting” because of the SNP’s own pro-independence stance.
Speaking to The Herald, he said: “It’s also interesting because of the social policies and the commitment against climate change that makes the Scottish Government a reference point for all the progressive governments of the stateless nations.
“When you have a meeting with a prominent politician like Nicola Sturgeon, obviously you have the opportunity to talk about the situation of your country, the situation in Catalonia and in Scotland.
“But yesterday we focused on some special issues that Scotland has a strong leadership [on], all the climate change policy.
“The Scottish Government is very focused on this just transition, because they are aware of the effects of the struggle against climate change over some economic sectors, especially the oil production in Scotland.”
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Mr Aragones went on to draw parallels between Scotland’s economy and Catalonia’s, claiming both “share common problems”.
Scotland, for example, has been attempting to distance itself from the oil and gas industries, both of which heavily contribute to the problem of global warming.
Towards this goal, Ms Sturgeon has been heavily promoting investment in the offshore wind industry.
Catalonia, on the other hand, according to Mr Aragones, is very reliant on the automotive industry, which he thinks is going to drastically change in the next 10 years or so.
He said: “So national governments, the Scottish Government, the Catalan Government, must drive all these transformations.
“We were focusing on that, apart, obviously, from talking about the political situation of both countries.”
However, he reportedly did not delve into the topic of Scotland’s push for independence.
Although Ms Sturgeon has ruled out in the past hosting a rogue independence reference styled on Catalonia’s failed 2017 attempt, the SNP Government in partnership with the Scottish Greens has committed to pulling Scotland out of the UK.
Mr Aragones said: “The future of Scotland will be decided by the Scottish people and the future of Catalonia the same.
“As President of Catalonia, I want to express all respect for the decision of the Scottish people. Whatever the Scottish people decide, Catalonia will support Scotland.
“For us, dialogue and negotiation is the way to solve this conflict.
“The aspirations of Catalonia cannot be solved only by the Spanish government rejecting all the proposals, so we have to negotiate, and if our experience can be useful for any other nation, we are happy to share our thoughts and experience.”
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