If the Diada is measured in thousands of protesters, theToday's independence movement cannot compete with that of ten years ago, but we already knew that.Those million-dollar Diadas belong to the past and won't return for a good while yet. Just remember which party currently represents the president of the Generalitat. Therefore, the number of people who took to the streets is directly proportional to the confidence they have in the strategies and leadership of Esquerra (Republic of Catalonia), Junts (Junts), and the CUP (with the deterrent influence of the rain, which in Barcelona this morning took the form of a downpour). Underlying this attitude is an indisputable reasoning: if when two million people came out to fill the entire Gran Via and Diagonal, all that accumulated strength didn't serve to make the struggle in Spain more likely to succeed, going out today or not going out won't make a difference. But, I insist, we already knew this.

One day after the ruling by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) against the decree protecting Catalan in schools, the defense of the language has focused the messages of political parties and organizations for the Diada on the traditional tribute to the monument of Rafael Casanova. However, the government of Salvador Illa has avoided mentioning the controversial ruling.who has already announced that he will tour—and has chosen to share the "good sense" and "ambition" with which she believes Catalonia should be led. This was conveyed by the Government spokesperson and Regional Minister for Territory, Silvia Paneque, after the offering, which proceeded normally until a downpour forced the media to halt. However, the event continued in the rain (even human towers performed) and allowed the organizations to lay wreaths at the foot of the monument.

This year's National Day arrives in a context of great uncertainty for Catalonia, Spain, Europe, and the world. The world has become more unpredictable and insecure. Western democracies are faltering, especially, and very worryingly, that of the United States. Much closer to home, one need only look at the disarray—not to say misgovernance—of neighboring France, which also faces increasingly severe debt. Or the economic difficulties of Germany, where the new chancellor has yet to demonstrate his political leadership, both domestically and at the European level.

Since the 19th century, Catalonia has opted to structure itself through a territorial model that has oscillated between particularism, federalism, and independence. The first two are connected to Madrid; and the last, for obvious reasons, is unilateral. The influence of these three approaches and their corresponding responses are what, in part, has shaped the Spanish institutional framework. Roughly speaking, the second half of the 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st, we can agree that Catalonia has amply fulfilled its modernizing and, above all, democratizing functions, with the conduct of great men and women, whether from the streets, factories, or institutions. However, given the local and international political landscape, it is legitimate to ask whether this role is exhausted or whether, as President Illa often maintains, Catalonia still has much to contribute to Spain as a whole.

With the independence movement now behind us, politics in Catalonia has taken on a tone more about management than about advocacy. And yet, within this framework of normality that some might define as boring, things are happening in Catalonia that are more than relevant to Spain as a whole.

When an ideology, a group, or a person experiences what they perceive as a failure, they can—and often do—have a negative reaction. There would be much to discuss about the failure of the Process, because, despite not achieving the intended goal—Catalan independence—it demonstrated several strengths of Catalan society and politics: an unusual capacity for mobilization and organization, a strong awareness of the common good, and the ability to unite very different political cultures under one umbrella. At the same time, it highlighted Spain's lack of democratic consistency, which, when faced with a democratic question, only knew how to provide a repressive response.

With 48 hours to go until the Diada, the state of the world, especially the Israeli massacre in Gaza, dominates the news. This morning, The Flotilla has reported a drone attack on one of its main vessels, docked in Tunisia.This is the moment. The alleged attack caused a fire, but no one was harmed.

"Catalonia is not the history we've been told, but the history we want to write. It is not the cult of the dead, but the cult of the children yet to come." I have always been impressed by Rafael Campalans's unadorned foresight. A resplendent lucidity like that which lies in this reflection, highly pertinent on the eve of our national holiday and the beginning of the commemorative tradition of raising the Senyera (Spanish flag) in Ciutadella Park on the eve of September 11.

It seems like it's all about to start this week. This is the case with the school year, which in Catalonia will be held without cell phones, which may not even be used for educational purposes. This correction is welcome, even if it brings us back to the pendulum law. There were years when, if there were no screens in schools, we were missing the boat on educational modernity, and now, frightened by the consequences of screen dependence, we ban them. That's fine, but everyone knows the problem is deeper: if screens devour the students' parents (which is what happens), they end up devouring the students.

This year's official events for Catalonia's National Day are full of changes. They all have one common denominator: greater solemnity and with the country's flag taking center stage. On the eve of September 11th, the kick-off of the celebration, there will be a solemn raising of the flag. the giant flag installed in front of the Parliament, in an event that recovers "the spirit of Maragall," according to sources from the panel. The enormous flagpole, installed by the chamber's panel and already a reality this Tuesday—at a cost of 93,000 euros—will be unveiled for the occasion. It measures a total of 25 meters in height, while the flag itself will measure six meters by nine, a total of 54 square meters. The flagpole is the tallest in all of Catalonia for a flag that will be displayed year-round, according to the sources consulted. However, it is much smaller than the Spanish flag in Madrid's Plaza Colón, which has a 50-meter pole and a fabric surface area of 294 square meters.

The independence movement is repeating last year's formula, and on September 11th the mobilization for Catalonia's National Day will once again be decentralized. This year there will be demonstrations in Barcelona, Girona, and Tortosa under the slogan More reasons than ever. Independence. This was announced by the organizers of the Barcelona Palace Plan, who hope to present the demonstration with a "social content" and have presented the defense of language and culture as the main reasons for participating. During the presentation, the president of the ANC, Lluís Llach, called for mobilization so that the Diada may be "a clamor that predicts the definitive resumption" of Catalonia's national liberation and "a celebration of reunion to restart the struggle."