Maduro, the only world leader who supported October 1st, is dividing the independence movement

BarcelonaThe lack of international support was one of the reasons the Process failed. Only one world leader defended the October 1st referendum: Nicolás Maduro. The Venezuelan president, ousted by the US, defended the referendum. "Catalonia had the right to express itself democratically," he said on October 1st in his program. Sundays with MaduroInterspersing images of police repression, which he described as "terrible," he had already been photographed with the Catalan independence flag (estelada) at the documentary's presentation in April.Maduro, unwavering loyalty, Directed by Lluís Bartra, a member of the Ítaca collective, a left-wing pro-independence group, the photograph infuriated the PDECat party. "If anyone thinks they're making a difference by having Maduro pose with the Catalan independence flag, they haven't understood anything," warned coordinator Marta Pascal. Eight years later, the figure of Maduro, who repressed the Venezuelan opposition while in power, continues to divide the pro-independence movement. In this sense, Trump's attack on Venezuela has highlighted the division within the pro-independence movement regarding international relations.

Together, the political space closest to the PDECat, has been performing a balancing act in the conflict. On the one hand, it condemned the United States' attack on Venezuela and asserted that the bombing and the capture of Maduro are "a flagrant violation of international law." On the other, it criticized "the authoritarian and corrupt regime" of the now former president, concluding that he governed "without the legitimacy of the ballot box." Its leader, Carles Puigdemont, has not explicitly commented on the attack, although he did share a message from his right-hand man, Josep Lluís Alay, who was commenting on a news report about China's request to the US to release Maduro. "I call on the Chinese government for the immediate release of thousands of Tibetan and Uyghur political prisoners held in extermination camps, in inhumane conditions, and subjected to torture and abuse for years in violation of international law," read his message, which Puigdemont shared. When asked about this silence on Wednesday, the spokesperson in Madrid, Miriam Nogueras, declined to answer: "The press conference is to discuss the Catalan economic agreement," she said, referring to the financing model.

Another Junts leader, Francisco de Dalmases, did criticize the left for demonstrating in Barcelona in support of Maduro while the Venezuelan community in Catalonia celebrated the dictator's downfall. "Is it possible to defend international law while also celebrating the fall of a kleptomaniac tyrant who amassed thousands of political prisoners?" Dalmases said.

In fact, the only pro-independence party that has fully aligned itself with Trump has been the far right. Aliança has applauded the intervention, once again aligning itself with Donald Trump. "Venezuelan sovereignty cannot serve as an excuse to whitewash electoral fraud, repression, or a government that has forced millions of citizens into exile," the party stated in a press release. Silvia Orriols's party believes that the US has acted "in defense of democracy and freedom" against Maduro's "narco-dictatorship," just as they did in defending Israel's genocide in Gaza.

The left, with Maduro

The left-wing pro-independence forces, on the other hand, have appealed precisely to sovereignty to denounce the US operation. ERC has denounced the "flagrant violation" by the Trump administration of international law and the UN Charter and has demanded "full respect" for the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, territorial integrity, the prohibition of the use of force, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. The CUP, a staunch defender of Hugo Chávez and Maduro, has gone further and demanded that the Spanish government break political and diplomatic relations with the United States after the attack on Venezuela, denouncing that "its complicit silence contributes to the escalation of the war." "One cannot speak of peace if an aggression of this magnitude is tolerated or legitimized," the anti-capitalists warned. Outside the Catalan independence movement, the Comuns party has condemned the US attack, denouncing it as "alarmingly serious" and a "major violation of international law." They demanded an "unequivocal" condemnation from Spain and the EU. From the Socialist ranks, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, warned that it sets "a dangerous precedent" and reaffirmed his commitment "to multilateralism and international law." However, he did not defend Maduro and advocated for "a peaceful and just transition" in Venezuela, "allowing for a future in democracy" without "external interference."

The positioning of the right

Aliança Catalana's position aligns with that of the PP and Vox. Members of the PP have refuted the president, reminding him that they submitted a proposal to Parliament to recognize Edmundo González as the legitimate president of Venezuela. "Your advisor [Jaume] Duch said it wasn't within his power to comment on Venezuela, hypocrites," Deputy Hugo Manchón reproached the government. The leader of Vox in Catalonia, Ignacio Garriga, has also criticized the stance of the PSOE, Podemos, and the Catalan separatists, who speak of invasion and war. "They are lying," he said. "The reality is that there has been an operation against drug trafficking and organized crime" and "the liberation of Venezuela from its greatest condemnation, Maduro."