Rafael Nadal, a Catalan and tennis star, has come out against the October 1st referendum for Catalan independence. In El Mundo he stated that Catalunya and Spain are stronger together than they would be apart. Makes me like him more than I did before.

700 mayors wouldn't agree! But then they will probably end up in jail.

http://www.france24.com/en/20170913-...erendum-mayors

Has Fodor's become a political platform????

isn't he from Majorca? is that in Catalunya?

IMO he has a much right to an opinion whether he is in Catalonia or not. As we have seen, people HERE who don't live there have one so why shouldn't he?

Ann - Yes, it is. Mallorquin is a dialect of Catalan.

Mallorca is in Catalunya ?

Really ?

So in 1983 the Autonomous region of The Balearic Islands wasn't created, given a president and each island elects its own president.

The Nadal family have always fiercely defended Mallorquin culture and Rafa's stand is part of a movement against the current ruling PSIB-PSOE socialist party who want to turn the island into a off shore offshoot of Barcelona. The socialist party are installing lessons in Catalan for schools and trying the culturally cleanse Mallorca of Its local culture.

Hmm, right you are. The Balearics are an autonomous region.

I hope Catalans are smarter than to put credence in anything a famous athlete may say. I have no dog in that fight but if an overwheming % of locals support independence that should be the way it goes.

If bulls could vote they'd vote Yes - bull fighters probably No.

but again what a famous athlete thinks who cares?

Spain's central government seems bent on thwarting the will of locals just like they have with Basques for years.

I'm all for a United Europe. Period without borders so would not care for another mini-state (or really two mini-states if the Yes vote wins and Catalonia really becomes independent).

Well that settles it then.

<<Has Fodor's become a political platform????>>

Since Fodors closed the Lounge, where many of the posts are political, to new members some years ago, political posts are bound to occur on the other boards like this one. They could easily open it again, but prefer to slowly strangle it instead.

Laverendrye- that doesn't explain why the people who start the threads are people who probably still have access to the lounge. Newbies never seem to start these.

I've never really understood why one would care about an athlete's opinion on anything other than sports. Not really news.

Curious about the topic though. Is the referendum likely to pass or is this similar to the stupidity of California independence?

> why one would care about an athlete's opinion on anything other than sports <

Wouldn't that be the same with anyone who is not an athlete? Why would anyone care about your opinion? Or mine? Or even PalenQ's?

There's a lot of research on who influences who. The impact athletes have is close to zero. Just above strangers on the internet.

It's not clear from what I can find whether Nadal was issuing some form of statement with the intent to influence or just answering a question.

The difference between a stranger on the internet and Nadal is that presumably Nadal was quoted by a journalist. Journalists quote celebrities because they think it sells. It might, it just never has for me. Any kind of celebrity endorsement, really. I just have never bought lipstick or car insurance because Star magazine said so and so used the same.