Why catalans are legitimized to vote, an open letter to the European Parliament by Josep-Maria Terricabras and Ernest Maragall.

1. Why Catalans are legitimized to vote, an open letter to the European Parliament.
Dear colleagues,
Democracy is synonymous with Europe.
Democracy is the major principle and value we refer to when we want to define modern
Europe, our home, and our country in last terms.
All we Catalans ask is that Europe becomes once again synonymous with democracy.
All we Catalans ask is that Europe recognizes itself in our democratic wish of freely deciding
over our own future.
Catalonia is an old European nation and was a separate state among the Spanish
Confederation until the Succession War (1705-1714) when the Bourbon King, Felipe V,
punished Catalonia for supporting the Habsburg pretender, abolished the Catalan laws and
constitutions, institutions and universities and banned the Catalan language in school and
administrative use.
When Spain became a republic in 1931, Catalonia claimed and established a broad autonomy.
Under Franco's fascist rule, autonomy was revoked, Catalan identity repressed and use of the
Catalan language was restricted again.
There have been centuries-long debates and academic controversy over the historical
foundation of the modern Spanish state and the involvement of the Catalan institutions. We
are aware of the consequences of losing a war and being conquered by the force of arms. And
yet, many historical inaccuracies are still committed when referring to Catalonia being "an
integral part of Spain from its origins".
In spite of all this, we do not want to dwell on our past, but to dwell on our present and
future. We believe in the European Union and we will be adamant in the effort to achieve a
stronger Europe according to the best standards of democratic quality, welfare and social
justice.
In Catalonia, several political parties concurred in the 2012 elections with the promise to hold
a referendum on the politic status of Catalonia should they win the elections. These political
parties currently account for two thirds of the Catalan Parliament and have explored all
possible means to find an agreement with the Spanish state on the celebration of the
referendum. However, the response has always been the same disappointing "no", that our
wish of voting is against the Law, against the Constitution.
Article 3.1 of the Spanish Civil Code literally states "The rules shall be interpreted according
to the proper meaning of his words, in relation to the context, historical and
legislative background and social reality of the time they are undertaken mainly in
response to the spirit and purpose of those." Therefore, the law has to adapt to the social
reality of the time. And the social reality of Catalonia is that more than 80% of its population
want to decide their own future on a referendum. It is simply unacceptable that Spain argues
rigid legality to stop democracy when its own Civil Code states that no law is immutable. We
are convinced that the spirit of the Spanish Constitution is not to prevent democracy, but
precisely to restore it and protect it after 40 years of dictatorship.

2. We call upon you all, as members of the European Parliament, to defend again the values of
the Union such as freedom and democracy. We ask you not to turn your back on millions of
your fellow European citizens who just seek to express their opinion through a non-binding
referendum. No supporter of democracy can be reluctant to listen to the voice of our fellow
citizens.
Josep-Maria Terricabras
Ernest Maragall
Members of the European Parliament