The Diplomat in Spain

Enrique Miguel Sánchez Motos

Senior Civil Servant

Pablo Casado has defeated, with 57% of People’s Party (PP) delegates’ vote, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, the former President of the Catalan Generalitat during the seven months in which was enforced article 155. PP’s Congress, without saying it explicitly, stated that its management has been absolutely intolerable and dire. Evidently, these terms have not been used in this congress to keep the forms, but they were probably in the minds of many of 57% of the delegates who chose Casado.

PP’s Congress has shelved the grave historical mistake of Rajoy and his Vice-President, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría. That is good for Spain. The time has come for a new PP, led by a young man (37) from Palencia who seems to have clearer ideas about what is a priority for Spain. Little by little, in a gentle but perfectible way, has been filtered the difference between the ‘continuist’ Soraya of 155 and Casado, who has understood that PP lost three million votes due to their weak performance facing the unilateral declaration of Catalan independence.

The unity of Spain will be a key strategic line in the immediate political future for all Spanish parties, both government and opposition. It is not acceptable, and it does not occur in any European country, the grotesque situation of the national language being discriminated against in bilingual communities. We can not talk about democratic coexistence as long as this happens. The time has come for all parties that consider themselves Spanish, that is to say those that affirm the unity of Spain, to put their socks up.

Very likely Casado will set the bar high. In his inauguration only the cherry on the cake, the national anthem, has been missing. A growing number of citizens is tired of living in a country where the use of the national flag or the national anthem can be branded as fascism.

We need to increase solidarity and for this we need a productive Spain. The waste in public spending, the failure to reduce the deficit, the increase in public debt, all of this can finance a happy spending today but they will be a heavy burden for tomorrow. The parties must offer proposals that really generate employment, in addition to assuming a belligerent role against economic corruption and political prevarication.

Actions speak louder than words. VOX is currently the party that most determinedly is raising complaints before the courts to avoid that, by partisan interest, serious crimes against the general interest of Spaniards may remain without being judged. It would be very convenient if the rest of the parties, who consider themselves Spanish, adhere to these practices. Gentlemen of the political «caste», do not disappoint the Spaniards! If you do not focus on the interest of Spain, do not complain about the widespread criticism of your behaviour. Long live Spain!

24/07/2018. @ All rights reserved