Carnival 2016 has been intense. In many senses of the word. As usual in this festivity, we experienced all the passion and and brilliance embodied in the event, but also with an undercurrent of anxiety and controversy over the new route of the parades of Debauchery and Extermination. The debate gave rise to initiate an urgent debate: which model of Carnival we want?
The controversy over the route of the parades is urging us to study and analyze the best circuits. But at the same time, also on other issues related with Carnival that might need a thourough analysis in search of new approaches. This year 2016, in which the Councillor for Culture and Celebrations, Rosa Tubau and the President of the Commission, Carlos Garcia, were able to manage the Carnival in a brilliant manner despite evident and unrealized difficulties, has helped us to put on the table a series of aspects that need to be analyzed.
The current Carnival is a model developed 40 years ago. At the end of the dictatorship, Sitges showed its passion for Carnivals by launching the first street floats in 1976. Floats were forbidden by Franco, but were tolerated inside our social organizations, were residents lived a Carnival that they refused to forget). During this time, the Carnival has grown significantly, has added new events and, above all, has added more people, both in the organization and participation, making it a highly popular festival driven by groups and organizations. But, however, the framework of Carnival has not changed since our democratic transition. It has become bigger, much bigger, but on the same model. We must analyze and discuss over the whole issue, we must take the right decisions together.
We must ask ourselves about the route of the parades -but assuming an essential and unavoidable element which is the prevention and security, we can not put it into risk. We must discuss and analyze the number of floats on the streets, the maximum duration of the parade, limits to participation and behaviours during parades, we must also discuss about the constant presence of alcohol on the parades, television coverage and we must also examine what is the real sense of the existance of our Carnival. The debate on the Carnival is necessary and ugent.
For this reason, as I promised at the Ash Wednesday's "Xatonada" at El Retiro, in a short time we will open a discussion with organizations, groups, security forces and all the agents directly involved in the festivity to analyze and tackle all the necessary changes. Humbly but resolutely. We love the Carnival and we can not look the other way when there are issues that we must face with determination.
