Mayoral Elections, Spanish Style
Yesterday was Election Day for mayors all over Spain and for a few regional governments. I voted, like every elegible member of a community should, even if only to show discontent. There was about thirty-three percent abstention in our township, up a little since the last elections. Mostly because people say it doesn't matter, they're all thieves. In our town the regional separatist party, leftist, won. The Socialists and the conservative PP were punished by the appearance of another party, also leftist. I believe our town has not had a conservative government since the death of Franco in 1975. Call us Reds.
But at least we've had different mayors. Some towns have had the same mayor forever. In Cuevas del Valle, Ávila, Licinio Prieto was mayor since 1954, when he was designated as mayor by the Civil Government of the province of Ávila, until he stepped down for health reasons in May of 2014 (he was over ninety years old, health reason enough). Except for two terms, he was mayor of the same town for over fifty years. Talk about putting down roots! I once thought Kevin White as mayor of Boston for sixteen years was too long! Others have also been in office since before the Constitution of 1978. And are openly pro-Franco. Such as Senén Pousa of Beade, Ourense, mayor since 1974 when he was also selected by the Civil Government of Ourense. He has pictures of the dictator in his office and every year offers a Mass for the soul of Francisco Franco on the anniversary of his death, November twentieth. Others have made the mayor's office a family affair. In Ramirás, Ourense, Maria Pilar Otilia López has been mayor since 1975, taking over from her brother, who in turn had taken over from their father, who had been designated mayor way back when Franco had recently won the Civil War. Of course, all these mayors obviously belong to the conservative party.
Why do some people get re-elected ad infinitum? Simple. These are small towns I've mentioned. Everyone knows everyone else. Someone who has always had power will always have power because they remember their friends. And their enemies.
But at least we've had different mayors. Some towns have had the same mayor forever. In Cuevas del Valle, Ávila, Licinio Prieto was mayor since 1954, when he was designated as mayor by the Civil Government of the province of Ávila, until he stepped down for health reasons in May of 2014 (he was over ninety years old, health reason enough). Except for two terms, he was mayor of the same town for over fifty years. Talk about putting down roots! I once thought Kevin White as mayor of Boston for sixteen years was too long! Others have also been in office since before the Constitution of 1978. And are openly pro-Franco. Such as Senén Pousa of Beade, Ourense, mayor since 1974 when he was also selected by the Civil Government of Ourense. He has pictures of the dictator in his office and every year offers a Mass for the soul of Francisco Franco on the anniversary of his death, November twentieth. Others have made the mayor's office a family affair. In Ramirás, Ourense, Maria Pilar Otilia López has been mayor since 1975, taking over from her brother, who in turn had taken over from their father, who had been designated mayor way back when Franco had recently won the Civil War. Of course, all these mayors obviously belong to the conservative party.
Why do some people get re-elected ad infinitum? Simple. These are small towns I've mentioned. Everyone knows everyone else. Someone who has always had power will always have power because they remember their friends. And their enemies.
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