break with Castilla and become autonomy

Thousands of people, 13,000, according to Police calculationsthey left yesterday to the streets of León to demand a better future for their province. So far not surprising. The funny thing is that at least a significant part of the attendees imagines that future in a different administrative scenario: in a lion separated from Castilla, which has ceased to be province to become the 18th autonomy of Spain and no longer looks at Valladolid as its de facto regional capital.

That there is one Autonomist drive In the province it is not a novelty. Years ago that their defenders cry because the region courts its administrative ties with Castilla. Yesterday’s march served however for something else: show to what extent that feeling has become strong and lets hear in the province.

It was about showing muscle. And he did.

A figure: 13,000. That is the number of people who mobilized yesterday in León to demand a better future for the province: 13,000. At least According to the accounts Police officers, because there are those who speak of several tens of thousands And the organizers of the march point to many more, around 50,000.

It is good for one or another figure, the undeniable thing is that thousands of lions took the streets of their capital between flags, banners and songs to wrap a march called by The main unions and backed by 60 groups to defend the future of the region. Your motto: “More solutions and less stories.”

What did they claim? “Definitive Solutions” For León at the economic and sociodemographic level. But not just that. Like the march held just a five years, The 16-F of 2020yesterday’s demonstration served to show the discontent of the Leon with the situation in their province; But also for something else: to make clear to what extent the idea has gained strength that the future of León must go through conquering greater administrative autonomy against Castile.

León News covered the act and He recounts that during the manifestation, shouts of “Autonomy of the country” were heard and banners were shown in favor of autonomy. Also flags that cried out for “autonomy 18” or “Lexit”label that (in a wink to Brexit) has made fortune thanks to the combination of “León” and “Exit”. The idea of ​​autonomy was so present during the march that today They are not few The media regional ones that dedicate its headlines.

Why is it important? Because yesterday’s march acts in a certain way of thermometer, one that helps to understand the discomfort in the province with its current situation and the interest raised by the lexit as an exit. Both when it comes to figures (between 13,000 and 50,000 attendees in a city of 122,200 neighbors) as social support. Although over the last months it has been clear that Not all Come with good eyes with Castilla, yesterday’s day shows, at least, that León believes that he must fight for “The future that deserves”.

“More solutions, less stories”. In the head From the demonstration at his exit from San Marcos lucia a banner that prayed “León + Solutions – Tales”, a message focused on the struggle for better infrastructure, reindustrialization, employment and public services. And it is undeniable that the message fell. The appointment attended representatives of most parties with weight in the province, The mayor of Leónthe president of the Diputación and members of social groups.

Beyond the streets. Yesterday was not the first sample to what extent the Lexit has penetrated in the region. TO late 2019 Several parties joined their votes to claim the autonomy of the Leonese region and become the 18 Spanish community. The idea: separate from Castilla with Salamanca and Zamora.

After the pandemic the drivers of that measure organized An act To remember that they did not give up and last year, in a new step in that same direction, PSOE and UPL added their votes to claim autonomy in the Diputación de León. Not everyone thinks the same, of course. In 2024 the PP already marked distances with the autonomist motion and advocated looking for a “Useful Leonism”.

“The community has been failed”. Proof of how living the claim is that the mayor of León, the socialist José Antonio Diez, recently presented a legal report to guarantee the Lexit. “We are clear about the mandate and will of the Leon, who have opted for their own community, and the Constitution supports us through the article,” José Antonio Diez claimsof the PSOE, who defends that “the current community has been failed.” “We never wanted to be part of Castilla.”

One question: Why? Because the province of León lidia with worrying data at the demographic and economic level. Four years ago I added 451,700 inhabitants, 13% less than in the mid -90s and 2024 data They suggest that it would be below 448,000. In a scenario marked by the urban exodus and the bleeding of the Mining municipalitiesLeón has also become one of the territories that More population loses from all over the country.

And his business balance is not especially good either. The latest data released over 2024 show that it lost 144 contributing businesses In just one year, which is equivalent to the more or less 50% of closures In autonomy.

Interesting yes, new no. The discomfort of the Leon is not new. A five years ago, the 18F of 2020, already encouraged Another mass march During which shouts of “autonomy, Leonese country” could already be heard, in tune with those who launched yesterday. “The Leonese go out to demonstrate, basically to change the territorial framework that impoverishes us,” He explained yesterday A UPL attorney.

If something showed the day is that it is not the only one who thinks so.

Image | CCOO CASTILLA Y LEÓN

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