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SUPPORTER’S OF SPAIN’S Popular Party (PP) had the bitter taste of victory in their mouths Sunday, after Mariano Rajoy’s conservatives came top in legislative elections but did not yet know whether they could govern.
This is the paradox facing the country as it contemplates a new type of politics.
The PP is stony-faced after losing its parliamentary majority, and its traditional adversary the Socialist Party (PSOE), which came second, is assessing the damage.
But far-left upstart Podemos is celebrating after arriving in third place with a fifth of the votes, while fellow new arrival, the fourth-placed centre-right Ciudadanos, is keeping its cards close to its chest.
On the balcony of the PP’s headquarters in Madrid, a huge sign read “thank you”, while outgoing Prime Minister Rajoy reminded supporters that the party was still the largest political force in Spain, with 123 out of 350 parliamentary seats.
With the calm resolve that has characterised his 34 years in politics, Rajoy announced that he would “try to form a new government”.
But the gathered supporters could not forget the fact that their party had fallen below the symbolic marker of eight million votes for the first time since 1993.
“If Podemos do form a coalition with the Socialists, Spain will be heading towards a default,” said 17-year-old student Javier Sanchez, who had come to the PP headquarters, concerned about the rise of the far-left.
I think Spain has to grow up. This is a country that needs some maturity.
At the headquarters of the Socialists — the country’s longest-standing political group, formed in 1879 — party official Juan Carlos Munoz comforted supporters after the PSOE took just 90 seats.
“It’s clear that the only person who can push agreements through is Pedro Sanchez,” he said of the 43-year-old PSOE leader.
Referring to Podemos, which split the left-wing vote and contributed to the PSOE’s poor showing, Munoz added: “Now they must show themselves to be statesman and not just populists”.
Never seen before
Meanwhile, thousands of Podemos supporters gathered in a public square in Madrid, releasing purple balloons into the sky and cheering a result which saw the party, an ally of Greece’s ruling radical Syriza party, take 69 seats.
“It’s unthinkable for any party to take five million votes just a couple of years after being formed,” said Luis Neira, a 63-year-old businessman who has been to all of his local Podemos meetings since its foundation.
For me, this is something I’ve never seen before in the democratic history of Spain and perhaps even Europe.
Four years after Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square was occupied by the anti-austerity Indignados movement — which gave rise to Podemos — supporters shouted “Yes, it’s possible!”
But Carmen Garcia, a 53-year-old arts administration worker, was serious despite the celebration around her. “The financial crisis benefited those who already had the most,” she said. “We’ve had enough of them stealing from us.”
Other major new arrival Ciudadanos, which some had predicted would be king-maker in the elections or even come in second place, took 14% of the vote following a campaign with an anti-corruption focus.
All the same, the party will make it into parliament. “We must be confident,” said Carlos Portillo, a 28-year-old engineer and Ciudadanos supporter. “This is the year that change happens.”
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So the media are pushing out poll after poll on a weekly basis saying fine Gael are apparently going to run away with the next election but now the media might seem a bit worried of what the real people of this country think.the Irish media are nothing but a propaganda machine for the govenment.its going to be very interesting to see what the real result in the next election is going to be because everybody I know will never vote fg/fg/lab again.
I agree Herman. Media which doesn’t align with my political or world view, is clearly compromised and obviously run by shills sheeple and sycophants.
“the Irish media are nothing but a propaganda machine for the government.”
All Irish media? Or just the ones with which you disagree?
Monday’s tin foil crown goes to you Herman.
No David not them all, but RTE who are paid by the government with taxpayers money and any owned by DOB who receive government favours and write downs and contracts, in return for biased news or propaganda as it is usually referred to.
“RTE who are paid by the government with taxpayers money ”
RTE gets money from licence fee and commercial activities. Government does not give any taxes to RTE.
well said herman…never have i seen as much spin,spin ,spin and then negative propaganda aimed at SF.. eg…the article the other day stating there was a brothel on the same block as Gerry Adams office….SO…its hardly his fault….we didnt hear….Murder in the Taoiseachs constituency on the same day….the whole DOB thing is a very dangerous situation
David best be quiet now awhile before you chop your own legs off and dont have a foot to stand on in other topics.
Belgium had no government for 14 months and the country did not fall apart!!!!
FG the puppets of Merkel and European Banking overlords will probably do well because they own the media who keep repeating the lie that everything is good. They arr openly trying to bribe the electorate in with more false promises and the dumb sheep will fall for it again until the trap door closes. Some will benefit again from FG but it will be the same cabal of people that always benefits. FG wouldn’t have it any other way.
They are lying to us telling us our economy is growing when in fact our debt is increasing – ie our wealth is decreasing.
As in the last round of the money ponzi fraud they are using the promise to pay back loaned money to represent real money which it is not. (ie the money in the economy as a result of growing bank lending again is interpreted as wealth)
Unfortunately the majority of electorate do not see this fraud.
Yes but Belgium has very strong regional government structures in place and that is what kept Belgium going. Ireland can’t rely on county council’s.
Belgium have some amazingly designed cities from their regional governments. Hasselt for example is so cheap, efficient and easy to get around.
fu\k the right I am voting left…
So am I. The left haven’t crashed the country nor would they accept a two tier recovery.
What’s the story with a quote from a 17 year old kid dissing Podemos at the start of the article. Pretty desperate attempt to start the article with. Unfortunately Ireland isn’t like any other Euro country, the sheep will continue to vote for the FF/FG in large numbers no matter how corrupt/negligent they are. I think these are traits that must run through a lot of Irish people.
SHEEP, SHEEP EVERYWHERE, BAAAAAAA!!!
You into sheep, A man? I bet they’re nervous around you alright.
I LOVE LAMB
Abolish the whip system and establish an open democracy. Simple.
Such pretty, pretty words…
The new memo from the government to its media outlets. Don’t try and persuade people to vote for us based on our achievments. No the people on the ground can see the reality despite the media barrage. No convince them there is no alternative, shure it worked for Bertie and everybody knows there is no difference between Bertie and Enda.
Majority of Spanish voters opting for stability rather than Looney Left, as will majority of Irish voters in February.
You realise the majority of governments since the state was founded have operated on about a third or a little over a third of the vote. Where are you getting this majority of population from you bell end.
All these establishment parties saying that alternative partys must mature and grow up all the time taking and assuming that everyone must be on board with blatant financial gangsterism and bureaucracy that suits a tiny percentage of Spain and in Europe in general. This indicates to me that these parties are like children who accept the handing over of their pocket money everyday to the schoolyard bully as normal and maybe they would want to grow up and grow a pair themselves. Parties like Podemos are called populist so saying the citizens of Spain and Europe are Ni just serfs to enhance the wealth of the elites and cowards who serve them is populist nonsense. When people see their I enough legitimate resistance through political means to challenge this feudal mindset then what was once populist nonsense “establishment jargen ” becomes the voice of the people and the will of the peoples. In a world gone crazy the narrative is if politically we ask and receive what most people want which is standard of fairness and dignity shown to the peoples of these countries you are crazy casually implying that these demands are insane in doing that the establishment and their lapdog supporters are the ones who need to grow up and see that this long yer social model will not be tolerated and their whole power structure will come crashing down with their ignorance to cover properly and their insatiable appetite for free and power . In a world where resources are in decline these people want more and more. Grow up its not going to happen. People have had enough and they cant financially beat up every country like they did with Greece. Its a failed broken system we need parties and leaders who are willing to put the ideals of everyone before the already enriched few and their corporate entity’s.
The Irish media make Pravda look truthful
The two party system will only be finished with a change in the electoral law, Podemos only polled 2% less than the socialists but have nearly 30 seats less, Pablo Iglesias has already outlined his conditions on any coalition, Change in electoral law, constitutional reform to enshrine basic social rights eg Utilities company’s cannot disconnect the water or electric for nonpayment of poor families, paralyze evictions, force banks to turn over empty stock housing for social housing. Turn back the labour reforms which have destroyed stable employment for temporary contracts. Let’s hope he keeps his word
Id say this election result will all over RTE news today!
NOT!
Any report on the referendum in Slovenia?
they voted against ssm. 60% of 35% turnout. unfortunately.
Rejected by 63.4% of voters.
35% turnout, looks like the progressive didn’t manage to get people to vote. You know who went to vote in that 35%… pity.
Looks like they need Chuck Feeney’s lobbying dollars to to get them voting for SSM.
David murphy you are a fool. License is a tax and we yes we do pay Ray Dary Tubridy and all the rest insane salaries to patronise us and talk down to us and tell us exactly what the masters want us to hear. Control what people know and you have won the battle.
At least in Spain, the electorate is presented with some sort of choice spanning the left/right divide unlike the centre left musical chairs party system operated by FG, FF and Lab. Not forgetting the Irish media who dutifully parrot the lack of choice and diversity of political thought.
Ah yes, but at least they will have more sunshine.
The journal try to make a tenous link between spains popular party and Irelands unpopular party.
Fine gael would love to take lessons from the PP, Over 1500 members in corruption scandals, The second on their list for Segovia is missing since the other day when he was recorded offering public contracts for a 3% kickback. The ex treasurer for the party caught with 43 million in Swiss Bank accounts. The head office in Madrid was remodeled using kickbacks. Building new hospitals then selling them off to your husbands company, selling public housing to a vulture fund and getting your son a job in the same vulture fund, cutting carers allowance and waiting for them to die so the waiting list goes down all the while having the private treatment of your father paid by the taxpayer (Thanks Mariano Rajoy) Awarding a civic medal to the statue of a Virgin, Having a Jobs minister who has never worked in her life and who “prayed to the virgin for Spaniards to find work”
surely FG should give them lessons on how to do all this while not getting caught or at even have a media interested in investigating.
Fg,lab are on the way out,never to return.this will be uncomfortable reading for them,merry Xmas.
“Fg,lab are on the way out,never to return”
Interesting. Who, then, will make up the next government?
“The financial crisis benefitted those who already had the most.” Quite a statement from one who supported regime change, eh?
You do realise that the line wasn’t said by a politician but by a individual citizen asked about the results, right?
It’s also the truth. All wealth studies have proved this time and time again. People for too long have been afraid to even say it.
“Took a bit of a hit” “falling apart” grow up journal. The two party system is dead, Spain has been in a crumbled state since 2008 this falling apart rubbish means nothing
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