Framed in the context of an independence process that marked Spanish politics for years, a small Catalan town He surprised to take a radically different posture. Far from joining the desire to separate from the State, This municipality raised to break with Catalonia itself.
And of course, it was an unexpected reaction motivated by institutional discontent that led him to put an unthinkable proposal on the table. History highlights the complexity of territorial tensions, even within the autonomous communities themselves.
What is the Catalan people who wanted to become independent from Catalonia a few years ago?
During the year 2017while media attention was focused on the struggle between the Government of the Generalitat and the Central Government, a Catalan people located at the western end of Tarragona He starred in an unusual episode. Instead of seeking the independence of Spain, he raised the possibility of Stop being part of Catalonia to join Aragon.
This municipality is Punta town of some 2,000 inhabitants which is located in the region of Terra Alta. Located right on the border with Aragon, it limits with the Aragonese towns of Maella, Fabara, Nonaspe and Fayón.
Its geographical position, away from the main Catalan urban nuclei, has been one of the factors that fed a feeling of institutional abandonment.
The key figure of this position was Joaquim Paladellamayor of Batea and militant of the Socialist Party. At that time, he expressed his discontent with the Generalitat, so he considered a “Constant Desatunction” to small peoples.
This lack of resources and administrative support motivated an unprecedented threat: to raise the annexation of the municipality to the neighboring community.
The role that Paladella played in Batea’s territorial drama
Paladella was not limited to isolated statements. His complaint transcended the local scope and acquired national visibility when he requested an official meeting with the subdelegate of the Government in Tarragona, Jordi Sierra, as well as an encounter with the president of the Generalitat at that time, Carles Puigdemont.
The proposal was no longer symbolic: He even mentioned the possibility of convening a municipal referendum to consult the popular will on the change of the Autonomous Community.
“If this continues, we will be better with Aragon”the mayor came to say, making it clear that the measure was not only a gesture of protest, but a real option if the situation did not corrected.
Although this referendum never became celebrated, the threat represented a turning point in the relationship between the municipality and the Catalan authorities. The Batea case became an example of how territorial margins also develop their own resistance logic, not always aligned with the predominant speeches.
Why did this Catalan people want to be part of Aragon?
Among the main claims were Lack of educational and health places. According to Paladella himself, the limitations imposed from the Government prevented the offer of basic services. This situation directly affected the quality of life of the neighbors and limited the development possibilities of the municipality.
At the same time, infrastructure investments were scarce. Road communications were deficient, and there were no concrete plans to improve public transport or foster economic growth. Batea, like other interior municipalities, was out of the priorities of an administration focused on metropolitan areas.
This perceived abandonment was the main argument behind the debate on a hypothetical incorporation to Aragon. It was not an identity or cultural issue, but a search for practical solutions to everyday problems.
What happens today with bat?
Today, the discourse of annexation disappeared from the local political landscape. However, discontent persists. Joaquim Paladella continues to lead the City Council with a solid majority.
Time modeled the forms, but has not resolved the background conflicts. To this day, no date has been set or asked any questions to hold a citizen consultation and therefore, The project was suspended.
In bat, The senyera continues to wave on the town hall. The threat of rupture with Catalonia was an extreme resource, used in a maximum tension context. Nevertheless, The causes that motivated him remain in force.
