The Spanish puzzle
After the last elections, the country finds itself in a predicament it’s never had to face in recent times. A ‘new politics’ headed towards pluralism, unthinkable for the generation born under Francoism.
After the last elections, the country finds itself in a predicament it’s never had to face in recent times. A ‘new politics’ headed towards pluralism, unthinkable for the generation born under Francoism.
Quiet mayhem has descended over Spain in the last few weeks. In truth, it has not been that quiet. The political picture that has emerged from the 20 December elections portrays the country as fragmented, confused and ungovernable. “We’re becoming Italy without Italians”, a phrase that has been coined to death of late, which we owe to former Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez. He made the quip even before the polling booths had opened, and his reference was clear: faced by the impossibility of guaranteeing solid majorities, the Madrid Parliament will produce unstable governments and frail coalitions, and this without the consummate art of compromise (or allianceshifting) typical of the Italian politician, who is often prepared to deny his or her principles in order to instate a short-lived government.
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