Half of the Catalan population don't want independence. If independence would be so great for Catalonia, why can't Pudgemount & pals sell the independence idea to them? Are they doing this the British way?
Most issues in democracies lie with how an idea can be sold, not the merits of the idea. Consider how in the Thirteen Colonies, the Independence faction back then had the support of 40-45% of White Americans, but looking at the USA today (or perhaps, the USA a couple of years ago) you would be hard pressed to argue against the idea that independence brought great benefits.
As to the actual merits of Catalonian Independence, I am not qualified to answer this. If you ask me, there's no use in gaining independence from Madrid but not Berlin lmao, but again, I do not represent Catalonians.
Here are some questions I'd like to know about the Catalan independence movement:
Why should Catalonia become independent? ("Spain sucks" is not a satisfactory answer.)
Greater autonomy (not absolute, because EU), a sovereign Catalonian government would be able to promote Catalonian culture & language without treading on any toes in Spain, Catalonia would not be subject to Madrid-loyal police and military presence. There are other reasons Catalonian ppl would argue about, but imo the former three are objective reasons in favour of independence.
What would independent Catalonia be like? (Realistically. "Member of the EU" is not realistic, unless Catalans manage to sell their independence idea to Spain first.)
A small but moderately wealthy nation with a small maritime presence with close links to the EU. I think it is more unrealistic to expect that the EU would allow an independent and pro-EU state like Catalonia to remain in the Meditteranean, it is simply too important, easy and beneficial for the EU to incorporate a state that has already been a member. Thus while it is possible Spain could continually retard EU efforts to keep Catalonia out, EU-Catalonian cooperation would bind the latter state in so many treaties it would be mostly irrelevant whether they were an official member or not - they'd bed de facto a member of most EU institutions. Could divided Spain really stand up to Italy, France & Germany? Not likely, especially since the EU could just keep continually trying to incorporate Catalonia until Spain failed. Spain only needs to fail once.
They want independence, but want to be part of the EU as well. How much more independence would this get them really?
Not that much, but it would change their relationship with the world. For example, within the EU their relationship would change, Barcelona would represent them within the EU instead of Madrid. They would be allowed to develop their own military infrastructure & policy, they would be free from the authority of the Spanish Constitution & Constitutional Court, allowing them to propose & implement legislature in accordance with their own newly adopted principles or constitution. There is also the option that even if Catalonian independence is not desired by the majority of Catalonians, Catalonians do not want the Madrid government to take their hesitancy as tacit approval to ignore their calls for greater autonomy. Thus the threat of independence can be used as a tool, to prove to Madrid that they are serious and if their autonomy requests are denied, may result in full blow independence attempts.
Honestly, it seems to me the pro-independence agitators are just that. Petty politicians who have nothing better to do than try to grab more power for themselves.
It could be so, but you must look beyond the scheming of petty politicians to also grasp that many ordinary people are more than willing to be used by petty politicians if it means they can in turn use petty politicians for their own ends. Look at how in the USA these people like Clinton and Trump can openly declare their ambitions, and they will win the support of millions, if those millions believe it will sow discord into their enemies & rivals.
What I argue is that petty politicians are not the sole root of any problem, acting as a catalyst to problems already existing. If the multitude of any peoples had few problems to protest, how would petty power mongerers have any power? With no support, they are just a boring office worker. With support, they become a leader. If Madrid can solve the grievances of Catalonians, the support for independence from centrist Catalonians will fade.
If the only thing the Catalan parliament does is organize an independence referendum once a year, it serves no purpose.
But is not a change to the structure better than burning it down?
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