Spain's revolutionary days are over (Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)
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Spaniards heading to the polls this Sunday will not do so cheerfully. Not only is the election disrupting the summer holidays of more than a quarter of Spanish voters — but the options on the ballot paper are, at first glance, pretty dismal. Neither of Spain’s two mainstream centrist parties can win outright, and so both will be forced into coalitions with smaller, more extreme parties. If one is to believe the feverish discourse, it’s a choice between anti-feminist neo-fascists on the Right or blood-drenched, murderous terrorists on the Left.
There is a grain of truth in this. If the current Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wins, he will probably only be able to form a government with the backing of EH Bildu — a Basque separatist party that welcomes former terrorists from the now defunct but once dangerous ETA into its ranks. However, if the opposition People’s Party (PP) of Alberto Núñez Feijóo wins, it will need the support of Vox — a hard-Right party that attracts national conservatives and authoritarians. Some of its supporters remain in thrall to the thuggish military dictator Francisco Franco.
Bildu and Vox each claim to be devoted democrats, but most Spaniards strongly dislike both — and with good reason. Vox leader Santiago Abascal has called Sánchez’s government “the worst in 80 years”, suggesting that he prefers Franco’s violently repressive autocracy. His party hopes to repeal abortion and euthanasia laws, end measures to ensure gender equality and combat domestic violence, and re-centralise power to Madrid.
The reputation of EH Bildu leader Arnaldo Otegi is even less flattering. The ETA veteran has only semi-apologised for the group’s murder of 853 people between 1968 and 2011. Having vowed to “alleviate” the suffering of the victims’ relatives in 2021, he then humiliated them by putting forward 44 former convicts at local elections in May 2023. These included seven candidates condemned for murder or for directly assisting murder.
While Spain’s mainstream parties would rather avoid such unseemly bedfellows, it seems they will have little choice: the People’s Party will likely win the most votes but fall short of an absolute majority. In that case, it will have no option but to turn to Vox. The party has no other potential allies: its dismissive stance on devolution and independence referenda has alienated nationalists from the Basque Country and Catalonia, who might otherwise have been sympathetic to its Christian Democrat agenda. Indeed, ever since Catalan separatists tried to secede unilaterally in 2017, the split between unionists and centralists has often dominated politics just as much as traditional Left-Right alignments.
If Feijóo’s PP and Vox fail to win a majority of seats, then Sánchez — whose party has long followed a conciliatory policy of devolution without independence — will form a minority coalition government with far-Left Sumar (a tweaked version of current coalition ally Unidas Podemos) backed by all the nationalist and separatist parties. That includes five or so deputies from EH Bildu. Nevertheless, although the polls are still too tight to call a winner, a People’s Party-Vox coalition is still the most probable outcome.
The election campaign has become all about the kingmakers. “Take the vote of Txapote!” (an infamous ETA chief currently jailed for several murders) is a favourite PP slogan targeting Sánchez’s Socialists. “Vote against the pact of hate!” shouts a massive scaffolding banner in Madrid’s famously gay Chueca district, claiming a PP-Vox coalition would shred women’s rights and fuel homophobia.
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SubscribeWhy is this story illustrated with a picture of Elton John?
I thought it was Pauline from the League of Gentlemen on holiday
Surely it’s Pauline Campbell-Jones (Steve Pemberton) the Restart officer in The League of Gentlemen.
Surely it’s Pauline Campbell-Jones (Steve Pemberton) the Restart officer in The League of Gentlemen.
Really!!
I thought it was Pauline from the League of Gentlemen on holiday
Really!!
Why is this story illustrated with a picture of Elton John?
I dislike New Bauhaus architecture and that does not make me Hitler. This is a stupid, wishy-washy article and I hope Vox get 25% of the vote if only to spite it.
Tremlett’s views on vegetarianism are uncomfortably close to Hitler’s
Tremlett’s views on vegetarianism are uncomfortably close to Hitler’s
I dislike New Bauhaus architecture and that does not make me Hitler. This is a stupid, wishy-washy article and I hope Vox get 25% of the vote if only to spite it.
Tremlett knows his Spain, granted, but in English terms he is the ultimate Guardianista.
A very “left” biased article. There are so many things I take issue with, that it’s hard to know where to start. But let’s think big for starters. Did he mention the attempts of the current Socialist (Sanchez) /Communist (Podemos and now Sumar) government to change the Constitution by the back door to please the separatists? The corruption of the institutions on which democracy live and dies? The galloping inflation and unemployment? The continual lies, cover-ups, opacity? The ineptitude? The denial of the right to private property by giving squatters rights over owners? The rise in crime rates ? Might this not be enough for people to see the wolf in sheep’s clothing? Another thing, since definitions matter. The PP is a centre party and Vox is a right wing party. As a well-known ex-marxist Spanish philosopher, Escohotado ,said – The far (hard, extreme etc) right doesn’t exist. It’s an invention of the far (hard, extreme) left.- In the case of Spain, I couldn’t agree more.
You omitted to mention the recent desecration of the grave of the late Caudillo, one Francisco Franco Bahamonde.
This act of barbarism cannot have been helpful.
The desecration of graves- n.b. only SOME graves – is a petulant, nasty and vindictive trait of this government. Meant to symbolize the winning of the war that they lost almost 100 years ago. Gives the measure. What is truly amazing is the condescension with which they treat electors. (A few days ago I read they had recently been digging up a mass grave in Catalunya only to find that the bodies belonged to victims of the Republicans, not victims of Franco’s forces. So they covered them up again.) Monty Python has a lot to answer for.
The desecration of graves- n.b. only SOME graves – is a petulant, nasty and vindictive trait of this government. Meant to symbolize the winning of the war that they lost almost 100 years ago. Gives the measure. What is truly amazing is the condescension with which they treat electors. (A few days ago I read they had recently been digging up a mass grave in Catalunya only to find that the bodies belonged to victims of the Republicans, not victims of Franco’s forces. So they covered them up again.) Monty Python has a lot to answer for.
Are describing California or Spain?
Are you describing Spain or California?
The far (hard extreme) right most certainly does exist. Nowadays it’s known as the “far (hard extreme) left.
You omitted to mention the recent desecration of the grave of the late Caudillo, one Francisco Franco Bahamonde.
This act of barbarism cannot have been helpful.
Are describing California or Spain?
Are you describing Spain or California?
The far (hard extreme) right most certainly does exist. Nowadays it’s known as the “far (hard extreme) left.
I think Coutts should close his bank account
In a perfect world of the main board directors of Coutts should suffer the traditional punishment for traitors at Tyburn*
However we live in an imperfect world and such behaviour by odious ‘money lenders’ like Coutts appears to be quite kosher.
Surely they could be prosecuted under the plethora of ‘equally acts’ that we have had dumped on us in recent years.?
Or failing that cannot the Bank England discipline them in some public and very humiliating way?
(* Mild strangulation followed by vivisection whilst ‘quick’, (alive and fully conscious) starting with the genitalia.)
Me think that Mr Farage has a very good claim for libel and that the damages would be sufficient to enable him to open an account with Coutts.
Have you notice how when someone is accused of offending the woke orthodoxy there are immediate grovelling apologies and sackings, but not apparently the other way round
Me think that Mr Farage has a very good claim for libel and that the damages would be sufficient to enable him to open an account with Coutts.
Have you notice how when someone is accused of offending the woke orthodoxy there are immediate grovelling apologies and sackings, but not apparently the other way round
In a perfect world of the main board directors of Coutts should suffer the traditional punishment for traitors at Tyburn*
However we live in an imperfect world and such behaviour by odious ‘money lenders’ like Coutts appears to be quite kosher.
Surely they could be prosecuted under the plethora of ‘equally acts’ that we have had dumped on us in recent years.?
Or failing that cannot the Bank England discipline them in some public and very humiliating way?
(* Mild strangulation followed by vivisection whilst ‘quick’, (alive and fully conscious) starting with the genitalia.)
A very “left” biased article. There are so many things I take issue with, that it’s hard to know where to start. But let’s think big for starters. Did he mention the attempts of the current Socialist (Sanchez) /Communist (Podemos and now Sumar) government to change the Constitution by the back door to please the separatists? The corruption of the institutions on which democracy live and dies? The galloping inflation and unemployment? The continual lies, cover-ups, opacity? The ineptitude? The denial of the right to private property by giving squatters rights over owners? The rise in crime rates ? Might this not be enough for people to see the wolf in sheep’s clothing? Another thing, since definitions matter. The PP is a centre party and Vox is a right wing party. As a well-known ex-marxist Spanish philosopher, Escohotado ,said – The far (hard, extreme etc) right doesn’t exist. It’s an invention of the far (hard, extreme) left.- In the case of Spain, I couldn’t agree more.
I think Coutts should close his bank account
Tremlett knows his Spain, granted, but in English terms he is the ultimate Guardianista.
Fascism is NOT a rightist government philosophy, it is decidedly left wing since it is collectivist. This canard keeps popping up because the leftists/socialists are so desperate to disavow their past. Read Mussolini’s biography; he was a socialist who became disenchanted with the party leaders, so broke off to form a variation on the theme. The word comes from ‘fasces’ which means a bundle of sticks, i.e. collectivism.
The closest right wing government is crony capitalism which recognizes individualism and concerns special favors on an individual basis. If involves collusion, but recognizes individual economic autonomy.
“Fascism is NOT a rightist government philosophy”
The funny thing tho is that actual fascists disagree with you — they see the communists as their mortal, eternal enemies, not their kissing cousins. Sure, there are similarities but there are also exact opposites in doctrine.
Hitler: The master race must exterminate the weak.
Stalin: Workers of the world unite.
Hitler: Cozy with the industrialists.
Stalin: Killed the industrialists.
A case of People Front of Judea
Narcissism of small differences.
A case of People Front of Judea
Narcissism of small differences.
“Fascism is NOT a rightist government philosophy”
The funny thing tho is that actual fascists disagree with you — they see the communists as their mortal, eternal enemies, not their kissing cousins. Sure, there are similarities but there are also exact opposites in doctrine.
Hitler: The master race must exterminate the weak.
Stalin: Workers of the world unite.
Hitler: Cozy with the industrialists.
Stalin: Killed the industrialists.
Fascism is NOT a rightist government philosophy, it is decidedly left wing since it is collectivist. This canard keeps popping up because the leftists/socialists are so desperate to disavow their past. Read Mussolini’s biography; he was a socialist who became disenchanted with the party leaders, so broke off to form a variation on the theme. The word comes from ‘fasces’ which means a bundle of sticks, i.e. collectivism.
The closest right wing government is crony capitalism which recognizes individualism and concerns special favors on an individual basis. If involves collusion, but recognizes individual economic autonomy.
“Vox leader Santiago Abascal has called Sánchez’s government “the worst in 80 years”, suggesting that he prefers Franco’s violently repressive autocracy.”
Does it? It might simply suggest that he believes that it is the worst government since the introduction of democratic government, rather than demonstrating sympathy for Franco. If the writer has a good reason to believe otherwise then I suggest he provides some context to convince me, rather than insinuation.
Do you remember Spain under Franco?
Contrary to popular left wing drivel it was a remarkably congenial place.
The ‘Paradores’ were splendid, in fact unrivalled in Europe. Crime was virtually non existent, and the interior was an historical paradise, whilst the food was scrumptious.
Conversely the roads were dreadful, the need for ‘bail bonds’ onerous and the Guarda Civil could be troublesome.
However all in all Spain was a joy to visit, and we ALL know what would have happened had the wretched Marxist’s won the Civil War.
Do you remember Spain under Franco?
Contrary to popular left wing drivel it was a remarkably congenial place.
The ‘Paradores’ were splendid, in fact unrivalled in Europe. Crime was virtually non existent, and the interior was an historical paradise, whilst the food was scrumptious.
Conversely the roads were dreadful, the need for ‘bail bonds’ onerous and the Guarda Civil could be troublesome.
However all in all Spain was a joy to visit, and we ALL know what would have happened had the wretched Marxist’s won the Civil War.
“Vox leader Santiago Abascal has called Sánchez’s government “the worst in 80 years”, suggesting that he prefers Franco’s violently repressive autocracy.”
Does it? It might simply suggest that he believes that it is the worst government since the introduction of democratic government, rather than demonstrating sympathy for Franco. If the writer has a good reason to believe otherwise then I suggest he provides some context to convince me, rather than insinuation.
Have Sinn Fein ever promised to alleviate the suffering of all their victims, I wonder ?
Certainly not! Their motto is “never forgive and NEVER forget”.
Certainly not! Their motto is “never forgive and NEVER forget”.
Have Sinn Fein ever promised to alleviate the suffering of all their victims, I wonder ?
It’s a nifty trick conflating a standard right-wing party with unapologetic former terrorists. You can do better.
It’s a nifty trick conflating a standard right-wing party with unapologetic former terrorists. You can do better.
I think devolution to the regions took place in the early 90s, long after the Constutution was passed. So presumably centralising again would not be against the Constitution.. Btw why call Franco a thug? He installed a dictator ship after winning a bloody civil war that alas ,the Communisfs lost, and stayed neutral during the 2nd WW. He was a General. Is that thuggish by definition? Please help .
You say “a bloody civil war that alas ,the Communisfs*lost” and then ask why Franco is called a thug?
(*sic.)
Why “alas” the communists lost? Franco’s victory saved the Spanish people from the grisly fate always awaiting the victims of communist-fascism.
You say “a bloody civil war that alas ,the Communisfs*lost” and then ask why Franco is called a thug?
(*sic.)
Why “alas” the communists lost? Franco’s victory saved the Spanish people from the grisly fate always awaiting the victims of communist-fascism.
I think devolution to the regions took place in the early 90s, long after the Constutution was passed. So presumably centralising again would not be against the Constitution.. Btw why call Franco a thug? He installed a dictator ship after winning a bloody civil war that alas ,the Communisfs lost, and stayed neutral during the 2nd WW. He was a General. Is that thuggish by definition? Please help .
Elton John has been spending far too much time in the tanning salon.