Zacs...the difficulty here is that we are talking about Latin temperaments.
As far as I can remember, this issue with Catalonia has been on a simmer-setting for many years. Both sides appear to be very pig-headed and will not now back down, without some help and encouragement.
Madrid have shown complete insensitivity by using violence against voters the other weekend, and the Catalans seem hell bent on a head-to-head confrontation, come what will.
The judgement of Solomon is needed here.