Spain's richest region, Catalonia, is normally a sensible enough place. But its politicians may not be. On a recent trip to Israel, Josep Lluis Carod-Rovira, leader of the nationalist Catalan Republican Left (ERC), boycotted a wreath-laying at the tomb of Yitzhak Rabin because no Catalan flag was flying. He also called on Catalans not to back Madrid's bid for the 2012 Olympics, triggering a slump in sales of cava (Catalan sparkling wine) in the Spanish capital. Then there was the plea by Pas-qual Maragall, Catalonia's Socialist premier (who is in coalition with Mr Carod-Rovira), for France to take Catalonia into the club for French-speaking countries. That riled Castilians-as did plans to ban bullfighting in Barcelona.
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