After decades without an effective nationalist movement, the real Spain is rising

The latest sign of the rising tide of nationalism all over Europe comes from Spain and, once again, the example and assistance of the British National Party is playing its part.

Over the last decade or so, the nationalist movement in Spain had sunk into total obscurity.

17 of its splintered fragments stood in the last national elections, collecting just a couple of thousand votes between them all in the whole of Spain.

The situation was looking disastrous. On top of the financial chaos caused by the Euro disaster, 16% of Spain’s 47 million population is now made up of immigrants.

For the last five years, each of the first babies born in Spain after the chimes of the New Year has been born to an immigrant (and none of them was to the sizeable community of mainly elderly British white flight refugees).

Growing numbers

At last, however, there is a clear contender for a real nationalist protest vote in favour of Spanish sovereignty and identity.

Plataforma per Catalunya was founded in Barcelona in 2002. Its aim was to provide a voice for the growing numbers of people in Catalonia worried about immigration and the destruction of Spain’s sovereignty through globalisation.

The new party stands for more powers for the local Catalan government, but opposes the ultra-left Catalan independence movement and its EU-inspired plans to break up Spain.

Plataforma won its first two council seats the next year, rising to 17 in 2005. In 2011 the figure rose to 69, giving the young party the bonus of a significant state subsidy, paid monthly.

A snap general election for the Catalan Parliament on November 25th this year now presents the party, led by 53-year-old Josep Anglada with a great opportunity and a big challenge.

Predicted to win

The opportunity is proven by the opinion polls; with put Plataforma on between 3 - 4%, enough under the PR system used to give them three parliamentary seats (don’t you just wish we had that system in Britain - Ed!)

It is thought that the opinion polls understate their support significantly, so the figures are very healthy.
The challenge is that the support will only translate into votes if they can find the money needed for the snap campaign.

The election was not scheduled until 2015, so the party leadership had a thoroughly practical scheme to set aside a portion of their state subsidy each month in the campaign fund.

Having it brought forward to next month has thrown that plan out of the window.
In order to make a truly historic breakthrough for nationalism, Plataforma needs to print two million pieces of literature for its substantial activist base to hand out on street stalls and at public meetings.

Most important of all, they need to post copies of their newspapers to the household head of every home in their best areas, and send their election address to every voter in the entire huge region.

Against the clock

Unfortunately, they just do not have the time to raise the cash needed in the few days left before the bills all have to be paid (the Spanish economy is so ruined by Europe that no surviving printer will give anyone any credit).

But Plataforma’s monthly subsidy cheque means that they can guarantee to pay back the loans they are now asking for as a result.
"We will be able to repay everything we need to borrow within a year even if we didn’t win any seats in the parliament", explains Senor Anglada "and if we do win - as everyone believes we will - then we will repay it all in three months."

Plataforma has a good track record in such matters. It partly financed its successful 2011 local elections campaign with money generously lent by two other European nationalist parties.

"I know from the leaders involved that every penny of the €150,000 was repaid within the agreed time," confirms Nick Griffin.
The same parties are lending a similar amount this time, but because this is a bigger election it will still not be quite enough.

Our Spanish comrades need help. It would be a tragedy if this historic opportunity was missed because of a short-term cash flow problem.

High regard

"Plataforma have a high regard for the British National Party," says Mr. Griffin. "Their core policies and attitudes are very similar to ours.

They see the necessity for building a Europe-wide block of practical, sensible yet radical nationalist parties.
"Unlike some, who have been tempted by the siren-calls of the Zionists and neo-cons, they agree with us in rejecting entanglements in foreign wars and the neo-con 'Clash of Civilisations'.

Like us, they just want to be left in peace to save and rebuild their own historic nation."
One of the founding values of our common identity is the concept that "one good turn deserves another".

Accordingly, Plataforma are not asking for gifts or even interest-free loans. They are, rather, offering a sound business proposition to any reader of this website who has cash to spare for a fixed-term loan:

Good deal

3% interest on the total amount if repaid at the end of three months (if they take those crucial seats in their parliament) or 1% per month on the balance outstanding at the end of each of 12 months of monthly repayments if they do not.

The amounts involved would have to be a minimum of £5,000 to make it worth arranging and providing the paperwork of a legally binding contract.

But, as anyone with that kind of money spare knows, 12% per year is some four times the highest rates of interest to be earned investing the money in any bank or building society.

"The most exciting thing about Plataforma and these elections is that, if they do as well as they are predicted to, it will be a springboard to even better things," explains Nick Griffin.

"They have already built a network of activists and organisers, under the name Plataforma Por La Libertad (Spanish Freedom Platform) in the rest of Spain.

They are particularly strong in Alicante, where there is also a huge expat Brit community. Together we are already making plans to work together to build our support among the exiled Brits, who can vote BNP in Westminster and European elections, and Plataforma in the local Spanish elections.

Moving ahead together

"Best of all, a win on November 25th would make it almost certain that they would win at least one seat in Europe in 2015.

That would be another true nationalist MEP and another nation represented by the alternative voice that we provide.

"So, if you - or a committed nationalist or a shrewd businessman you happen to know - are in a position to help, please give it really serious consideration.

Get in touch through our Head Office straight away, because money coming through after November 1st would be too late to be used.

"A victory for any real nationalist party is a victory for us all. And a victory is on the cards in Spain next month."