the debate on Scottish independence revived by the death of Elizabeth II… but after the period of mourning

As the city of Edinburgh prepares to receive the remains of Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday, September 11, the question of the independence ofScotland resurfaces. “I think some will use the situation to push the independence cause”explains Cristina in front of the gates of the Palace of Holyrood where thee coffin of the sovereign. He must leave the royal residence of Balmoral, where the queen died Thursday, September 8, to reach the Scottish capital at the end of the day, after a journey scheduled to last six hours.

>> Follow the arrival of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Edinburgh live

In Epod, attachment to the monarchy remains the majority, but part of the population still aspires to independence. After the failure of a first referendum in 2014, the separatists of the Scottish National Party (SNP) are determined to organize a second in 2023. And in a context of very strong social and political tensions with London, the death of Elizabeth II could reshuffle the cards.

Can the Crown get weaker? The kingdom to disunite? In front of the gates of Holyroodhouse, these questions are deemed out of place. Only flowers and contemplation are appropriate here. “I hope that politics will stay out of this, and that we will remain united in our pain and in the hope raised by this new reign”, underlines Cristina who still expresses her fears. Anxieties that are not necessarily founded, because in Epod, you can be a separatist while being a monarchist. The enemy is not Buckingham Palace, but Westminster and the conservative, anti-European policy of the British government.

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Barry is for independence. He certainly feels more and more republican, but, for him, the monarchy is not the problem and the death of Elizabeth II will have no political impact, because “the United Kingdom has been disunited for a long time”. “There is still no government in Northern Ireland. Here in Scotland, we want to leave. Only Wales want to stay”enumerates theScottish.

“Yes, Scotland will one day be independent, but I don’t think the monarchy has anything to do with it.”

Barry, a Scottish independence fighter

at franceinfo

According to a recent survey, nearly two in three Scots remain committed to the Crown. The separatists of the SNP, who won the last elections, are careful not to question the monarchy, explains political scientist Kirsty Hughes. “I think the SNP leaders want to make sure it doesn’t become divisive.explains the researcher. Above all, they want independence to be a majority and they will want to keep a monarch, even if it is no longer Queen Elizabeth.

Proof of the great caution of the independence party: its elected officials are careful not to answer questions that are too political in this period of mourning, where only homage to the deceased queen is in order.