Kafka wrote a short novel about chess, which takes place during World War II, on a steamship traveling from New York to Buenos Aires. All attention on the ship is focused on the world chess champion, a rude and ignorant man, but with a great ability to anticipate his opponent's moves. One evening a multiple game is organized, which the champion wins without effort, until he runs into an enigmatic passenger whom he cannot checkmate. The interest of the novel lies in knowing where this individual learned to play. One of the teachings of the book is that in this life, no matter how clever you are, you can find someone who spoils your story.
I have remembered this novel that Vienna Edicions has republished, seeing how Pedro Sánchez moves his chips to obtain the support of Catalan independence parties, convinced that his ability to manage them will allow him to reach an agreement. But, suddenly, he has found that ERC and JxCat have stuck to the referendum, convinced that it is the moment of all or nothing. It is as if, suddenly, they had felt the pleasure of stepping on red lines.
Sánchez must think that he will find a formula that will make him minimally involved in the consultation and calm their spirits. He has not understood that in their chicken race, ERC and JxCat do not want to conclude the game in a draw, like Kafka's Viennese, but rather beat the champion. He even risked going off the cliff with the board in his hands and the figures in the air.
Salvador Illa (PSC) has said it very clearly: if we have to go to elections, then they will go. And the campaign can make history. I don't think that we Catalans have anything to gain in a new call. Gaziel warned about it 90 years ago: “Why does Catalonia lose and has it always lost? When in a gambling house they say to you, pointing to a player: Do you see that man? He always loses (...) It's not the cards, it's not luck: it's the man who fails. Ultimately he is the unfortunate one, because even when he has the best cards he loses the game.” History once again puts the Catalan parties at another decisive crossroads. They are overcome by boasting, they lack intelligence.
