Kafka wrote a short novel about chess, which takes place during World War II, on a steamer going from New York to Buenos Aires. All the attention on the ship is focused on the world chess champion, a rude and ignorant man, but with great ability to anticipate the opponent's moves. One evening a multiple game is organized, which the champion wins without effort, until he encounters an enigmatic passenger whom he fails to checkmate. The interest of the novel lies in knowing where this individual learned to play. One of the book's conclusions is that in this life, no matter how cunning you are, you can always find someone who spoils your story.
I remembered this novel that has been republished by Viena Edicions, seeing how Pedro Sánchez moves his cards to get the support of the Catalan independence parties, convinced that his ability to manage them will allow him to reach a final agreement. But suddenly it has been found that ERC and JxCat have gone ahead with the referendum, convinced that it is the time for all or nothing. It's as if, suddenly, they felt the pleasure of stepping on red lines.
Sánchez must think that he will already find a formula that commits him as little as possible to the consultation and calms the spirits of both parties. He has not understood that in their chicken race, ERC and JxCat do not want to end the game in tables, like Kafka's Viennese, but to win the champion. Even if it is at the risk of rushing into the abyss with the board in hand and the figures in the air.
Salvador Illa (PSC) has made it very clear: if it is necessary to go to elections, then they will go there. And the campaign can make history. I don't think that the Catalans have anything to gain in a new call. Gaziel warned it ninety years ago: "Why does Catalonia lose and has 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 good at swindling, they lack intelligence.
