Abstention 1, Democracy 0
Spain is now no different from other European countries in a sad way. We now have an extremist right wing party with elected officials, which David Duke, former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, congratulated. This past Sunday, there were elections for the regional parliament of Andalucía. Vox gained twelve seats, mostly thanks to the almost 54% of elegible voters who decided not to vote, because "they're all the same."
But, they're not all the same. It's true, the local Socialist party, which has been ruling in Andalucía since it was declared an autonomous region, is riddled with corruption. That's the problem with holding power indefinitely. A glance at the Franco family with it's ill-gotten gains, and their friends from the dictatorship, can tell you what a long time in power will do. Power does corrupt. It may not corrupt all who hold public office, but it will cast a pall over those in office at the same time as the corruption. If the Socialist party had been smart, it would have taken a pruning shear to itself, and coaxed out new branches, free from the mildew of pilfering.
So, the rightist parties had a field day, especially Vox. Paradoxically, it won in El Ejido, more than anything because of all the immigrants working in its greenhouses. This is a town in southeast Spain that grows most of the tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, peppers, zucchinis, melons, watermelons, and cut flowers of all the country. Its kilometers of plastic-covered fields can be seen from satellites in space. All those plastic greenhouses need labor. They receive it mostly in the form of immigrants, both with papers and without. The majority of those laborers are from Morocco, and therefore Muslim. The Spanish neighbors are fearful of these people with different cultures and a different religion. Whenever a crime is committed, and the culprit is an immigrant, the rift grows.
But those immigrants are an important part of a business that moves more than two billion euros a year. Over thirty percent of the workers are immigrants, and most of those have no papers and work on a temporary basis. The workers with papers are paid around €45 for an eight hour day. Those without receive a little over €30. If those people without papers are expelled, and some with papers, like Vox wants to do, who will take over their jobs?
Last Sunday, the Socialists received the majority of the votes, but not enough to return to power without help from at least two other parties. One of those, right-wing Ciudadanos, will probably pact with the conservative PP. That will not be enough, though, and they will have to seek out Vox. The Partido Popular has already announced that they would enter into talks with Vox. That's one of the things that gets on my nerves the most. Instead of denouncing them for what they are and sending them to the coldest doldrums of unrecognized politics, the PP has decided to treat them as equals.
Vox has several requisites, however. The first, that the autonomous regions be abolished and Education and Health be regulated from Madrid (Spain has to become "one, great and free" again - Franco reborn). The second, that the inheritance tax be completely abolished (including, and especially, on multi-millionnaires). The third, that there be no prohibitions of any kind on hunting and bull-fighting, and the special protection of Holy Week, as quintissential parts of Spanish culture (not mine, babe). Fourth, that the laws protecting battered women and recovering the historic memory of the Civil War be repealed (the misogynist PP and Ciudadanos would love that). Fifth, fight against illegal immigration by deporting them all as well as those here legally who have committed a crime (he would probably extend the crime to parking tickets). And sixth, that Spanish citizens should have the priority in receiving social aid (so, if you're out of work and need unemployment checks until you find someting else, you can starve if you're not Spanish).
It's a bleak time to be living in Spain now, with the political detritus from the past stirring up dust in the present. How the dust will settle is yet to be seen, but the pattern that is dimly looming looks like a remake of a vintage terror movie.
But, they're not all the same. It's true, the local Socialist party, which has been ruling in Andalucía since it was declared an autonomous region, is riddled with corruption. That's the problem with holding power indefinitely. A glance at the Franco family with it's ill-gotten gains, and their friends from the dictatorship, can tell you what a long time in power will do. Power does corrupt. It may not corrupt all who hold public office, but it will cast a pall over those in office at the same time as the corruption. If the Socialist party had been smart, it would have taken a pruning shear to itself, and coaxed out new branches, free from the mildew of pilfering.
So, the rightist parties had a field day, especially Vox. Paradoxically, it won in El Ejido, more than anything because of all the immigrants working in its greenhouses. This is a town in southeast Spain that grows most of the tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, peppers, zucchinis, melons, watermelons, and cut flowers of all the country. Its kilometers of plastic-covered fields can be seen from satellites in space. All those plastic greenhouses need labor. They receive it mostly in the form of immigrants, both with papers and without. The majority of those laborers are from Morocco, and therefore Muslim. The Spanish neighbors are fearful of these people with different cultures and a different religion. Whenever a crime is committed, and the culprit is an immigrant, the rift grows.
But those immigrants are an important part of a business that moves more than two billion euros a year. Over thirty percent of the workers are immigrants, and most of those have no papers and work on a temporary basis. The workers with papers are paid around €45 for an eight hour day. Those without receive a little over €30. If those people without papers are expelled, and some with papers, like Vox wants to do, who will take over their jobs?
Last Sunday, the Socialists received the majority of the votes, but not enough to return to power without help from at least two other parties. One of those, right-wing Ciudadanos, will probably pact with the conservative PP. That will not be enough, though, and they will have to seek out Vox. The Partido Popular has already announced that they would enter into talks with Vox. That's one of the things that gets on my nerves the most. Instead of denouncing them for what they are and sending them to the coldest doldrums of unrecognized politics, the PP has decided to treat them as equals.
Vox has several requisites, however. The first, that the autonomous regions be abolished and Education and Health be regulated from Madrid (Spain has to become "one, great and free" again - Franco reborn). The second, that the inheritance tax be completely abolished (including, and especially, on multi-millionnaires). The third, that there be no prohibitions of any kind on hunting and bull-fighting, and the special protection of Holy Week, as quintissential parts of Spanish culture (not mine, babe). Fourth, that the laws protecting battered women and recovering the historic memory of the Civil War be repealed (the misogynist PP and Ciudadanos would love that). Fifth, fight against illegal immigration by deporting them all as well as those here legally who have committed a crime (he would probably extend the crime to parking tickets). And sixth, that Spanish citizens should have the priority in receiving social aid (so, if you're out of work and need unemployment checks until you find someting else, you can starve if you're not Spanish).
It's a bleak time to be living in Spain now, with the political detritus from the past stirring up dust in the present. How the dust will settle is yet to be seen, but the pattern that is dimly looming looks like a remake of a vintage terror movie.
Interesting. It seems very stormy here in USA and around the World. Especially with President Trump 'Making America Great Again' banter and Dems wanting to let everyone in. It is becoming a worldwide problem that liberals caused by not enforcing laws that were placed on books years ago. Same labor problems here in USA. Thing with Spain is they have the history of booting Muslims out centuries ago; it was El Cid pushing the Moors back across the Med. I enjoyed your article and bring me up to date of what is occurring there in Spain. I will keep eye for your future posts. Have a joyous New Years 2019
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