In Catalonia, the eighth anniversary of the October 2017 events passed with almost no attention. This time, neither politicians nor the public showed much interest in a date that until recently sparked heated debates and mass rallies. Even among independence supporters, the former enthusiasm was absent: their gatherings were small, and their statements received little media coverage.
At the start of the month, activists from one political party met in the small town of Cornellà de Terri (Girona), where Carles Puigdemont cast his vote eight years ago. They once again reminded people of the referendum results and called for completing what was started. However, even this event went almost unnoticed by the wider public. Media attention was focused on other stories, not on yet another call for independence.
On the same day in Barcelona, the president of the Council of the Catalan Republic made a statement declaring his readiness to lift the suspension of the declaration of independence if parliament failed to take appropriate action. But his words drew little reaction—they remained within the walls of the hall where the speech was made. Even Puigdemont’s video message received only a few thousand views, extremely low for such an event.
On October 3, when public commemorations for the general strike of 2017 might have been expected, the spotlight shifted to student protests in support of Palestine. This issue dominated newspaper front pages and news broadcasts, pushing the Catalan question into the background. By the end of the month, it was clear: none of the parties that had previously been active in the independence movement organized any public events or commemorative actions.
It is particularly telling that the movement’s leaders were preoccupied with internal political matters. In particular, Junts representatives were closely watching decisions made by their leader, which could impact the formation of Spain’s new government. As a result, the anniversary of the 2017 events passed with little mention, reflecting dwindling interest in the topic and a shift in the region’s political climate.
