After Easter, let’s act like Pontius Pilate. Not washing our hands, but rather, as was customary at the time, pardoning a prisoner for the Jewish passover. And I will defend forgiveness for two of the most criticized politicians in recent months: Ayuso and Armengol, whose immediate resignation is demanded by the left and right, respectively. Their cases are not comparable. One is good and the other is bad, but, as it is so obvious, it is not necessary to say it. Stick to your (pre)judgments. And maybe one day we will discover that both politicians hide a serious responsibility for the scandals that taint them. But with the information available today, they cannot be accused of malpractice.
The masks purchased during the pandemic by the Balearic Government are not “Armengol’s contract” or “Armengol’s payment”. A regional president is not responsible for all the acquisitions made by her administration unless it is proven that Armengol provided direct or indirect instructions regarding that contract (or subsequent actions related to it). And a president is not responsible for what her partner does, as long as the alleged illegitimate or illegal benefits of that person were not a result of their romance. Ayuso and her boyfriend belong to intertwined worlds, but the problem is that love leads to a professional relationship, not that a professional relationship leads to love. What defines the civilized world against the tribal one is that responsibility is limited to the individual and does not spread to family members.
The news about Ayuso’s partner, or the gray areas of the Balearic masks contract, are of public interest and publishable. Kudos to investigative journalists who bring them to light. And shame on politicians who try to silence news that concerns their own – in some cases, shamelessly attacking journalists, like Miguel Ángel Rodríguez – and drawing premature conclusions about those that affect their rivals. By turning on the fan, the PP and PSOE have entered a game of mutual destruction. The first sign of the collapse of a democracy is when its major parties accuse each other of systemic corruption. That’s when the trumpets of the apocalypse start to sound.
In conclusion, it is important to resist the tribal mentality that seeks to assign blame based on preconceived notions rather than evidence. Both Ayuso and Armengol deserve a fair assessment of their actions without jumping to conclusions based on political allegiances. It is crucial for democracy that accountability remains with the individual and not extended to their family members or partners. By upholding ethical standards in journalism and politics, we can work towards a more transparent and accountable society where rumors and bias do not dictate the narrative. Let’s continue to demand integrity and responsibility from our leaders while also recognizing their humanity and the complexities of the political landscape.
