The problem in Spain is that the government sees itself as Spartacus, the rebellious slave frequently cited by Yolanda Díaz, while the opposition views it as Nero, the populist tyrant who ruined public finances. Neither comparison is accurate, but there are troubling parallels with the history of Rome: the majestic Republic fell after politicians, led by Julius Caesar, abandoned old conventions and began playing dirty against their adversaries. It wasn’t the ideology of the two major parties, the populares and the optimates, but rather the actions of their leaders that muddied public debate. No side was inherently bad, but both committed atrocities and fell under the sway of strongmen.
While the current situation is different, it’s important to remember that fascist Caesarism has historically emerged not in authoritarian regimes, but in democracies ripe for exploitation such as ancient Rome, revolutionary France, or the interwar period. As some historians note, fascism and democracy both thrive on discourse, but the key is whether that discourse is clean or filthy. How can Spain clean up its toxic political atmosphere, as described by the Financial Times? The first step is for the main parties to shift their focus from winning through division to offering sound governance. Short-term gains from humiliation lead to long-term disasters, not just for the opposition but for the perpetrators as well.
The PSOE attributes its significant losses in last year’s regional and local elections to focusing on policy while the PP muddied the waters. However, perhaps the public punished the PSOE for mismanagement – not of the economy, which was performing well, but of issues such as consent laws and penal code reforms to appease coalition partners. Did the PSOE’s resurgence in June result from stoking division or the poor handling of PP-Vox agreements? Resorting to verbal or physical aggression is not an effective strategy as it hinders the essence of politics: adapting to reality. Once you descend into the mire, it’s difficult to climb out, as Spartacus can attest.
It’s crucial for Spain to shift away from divisive tactics and focus on improving governance to remedy its political toxicity. The country must learn from history and avoid the pitfalls of previous democracies that succumbed to fascist tendencies. By engaging in clean, constructive discourse and basing decisions on the needs and realities of the population, Spanish politicians can rebuild trust and foster a healthier political environment. The current path of mudslinging and division only leads to further turmoil and stagnation, hindering progress and damaging democracy in the long run. It’s time for a change in approach, away from confrontation and towards collaboration for the greater good.
