It seems to be quiet in terms of extreme nationalism and language imposition, but it isn't. The Spanish parties are busy with themselves and in the schools the indoctrination of the students continues undisturbed.

But it doesn't have to stay that way. Around 2011/2012 the term Tabarnia was born as a satirical reflex ^[1] to the independence aspirations of Catalan separatists. It refers to the areas around Barcelona and Tarragona and demands independence from a possible independent Catalonia. This has almost become something akin to a political movement that is not slackening in the fight against separatism.

Tabarnia was an invention of Daniel de la Fuente and in the beginning they just made fun of the separatists. Their slogans, demands and claims were used and applied to the situation in Catalonia itself. The best known in this context was the slogan „España nos roba“ (Spain robs us), which the Tabarnesian changed to „Cataluña nos roba“.

Both allegations certainly have the same justification or inadmissibility, as the case may be. The industrial heart of Catalonia is located in Barcelona and Tarragona, where the wealth of Catalonia is created and not in the rural areas, i.e. the only places where the separatists manage to find majorities.

This became clear again during the elections in April 2019. While the separatists (JxCat,ERC,CUP/Front Rep.) in Catalonia were able to record almost 40% (1,626,001) of all votes, the figure in Barcelona was only 17.85% (155,680).

The fact that the separatists nevertheless govern in Catalonia is due to the d'Hondt electoral process and certain privileges granted to rural Catalonia.

In fact this situation leads to more and more injustices and today Tabarnia is perhaps already a serious movement and is persecuted as such.

When the separatists taped Catalonia with yellow ribbons because of the imprisoned separatist leaders, some Tabarnese were arrested by Mossos (Catalan police) because they had removed these ribbons. It has not been reported that separatists were arrested for initially plastering the yellow ribbons everywhere. Catalan President Torra even refused to follow a ruling of the highest Catalan court to remove the ribbons from public buildings during the elections.

When the separatists taped Catalonia with yellow ribbons because of the imprisoned separatist leaders, some Tabarnese were arrested by Mossos (Catalan police) because they had removed these ribbons. It has not been reported that separatists were arrested for initially plastering the yellow ribbons everywhere. Catalan President Torra even refused to follow a ruling of the highest Catalan court to remove the ribbons from public buildings during the elections.

With the end of last year the attacks on Tabarnia ^[2] increased and that is no surprise. Tabarnia is the most effective attack on the separatists' arguments when they demand the right to self-determination, which they understand as the right to secession from Spain. Of course the separatists vehemently oppose the fact that the right that they demand for themselves is just as naturally perceived by Tabarnia.

In this sense, one should hope that Tabarnia remains a satire, because the right to self-determination, thought through to its end, finishes with everyone starting their own republic.

It remains a pleasure to follow the web sites of the Tarbarnese. But to do so you have to understand Spanish. It's definitely worth it.