As a firm believer in democracy, I think now is the time to drop the "election" climate and start again with our lives. It's crucial that we do it as soon as we can, and with as small anger as it is possible. Although I don't like the election outcome, I just congrat socialist voters. They won a legal election and, most likely than not, Zapatero will be our next president. I hope they do the best for all of us.
But while I think rotation is good for cleanliness in a democratic nation, as Spain is, and in this sense I don't think Socialist party is bad "per se" for us, I would like to point out some facts:
It is false, and a dirty lie, that the Popular Party "manipulated" "lied" or in any manner altered the truth or evaded the facts whatsoever with regards to the news arising from the blasts. The most credible assumption at the beginning was it was ETA's work, thus the first sentences about the bombing. After the van with the arabic tapes was found, the government just "left all hypothesis open for investigation", which is, in my mind, the logical thing to do, after claims on Al-Qaida groups about any possible catastrophe, accident or mass murder happening in western world.
It's only poor democratic praxis that the Socialists cried out and loud "not to use the killing politically" when It seemed it was ETA the responsible and, immediately when the van was found, cry out and loud (and I emphasize Immediately) that the government was lying about the whole stuff. If this is not using the killings on a political way, I don't know then what is the concept.
It comes to no surprise, but with certain degree of sadness, that alike their predecessors in 1930, leftists in this country tend to think that they are the only ones entitled to govern, the only ones that are real democrats, and that consevative parties are straight down fascists. I suppose, thanks to their education reforms back in the eighties, a great majority of people seem to accept this without any further question. Pity for Spain.
About the results themselves, I don't think it is inherently bad, but I'm pretty sure it comes too soon. Socialists made an "opposition" program, so I'm pretty sure they won't be able to comply with their promises. Never they could have thought the would win the election. Their economic team is really poor (if exists at all) and their recent political past record is not the one that makes me mostly confident about our future as a nation.
Even I think this is true, I won't be so cynical as to deny him the beneficial of the doubt.
With regards with Popular Party's 8 years mandate, I think It's been the best period overall since 1.975. And, overall again, Aznar has been the best leader we had. Serious and tough, certainly not a "loving" kind of guy, but a fantastic president. I hope Zapatero is, at least, as good as him.
Popular party made a wonderful task in economics, and put Spain on the side of the Global International scene where we should be. The only problem (which ultimately cost them the election) is the absolutely horrendous comunications and PR management.
Socialist, communist and, to some degree, independentist nationalist, favourites when critisizing Popular Party work are Prestige Spill, and Irak War. Being both Popular Party's successes, it's been perceived as big failures by the average spaniard. Why?....let me guess:
Prestige: A damaged Oil tanker ask permission to harbor the northern coast of Spain. The government, on seeing tanker's bad shape, refuses to give the go ahead and, instead, tows the shipt far away from the coastline, where it sank. It made a decission where whatever they decide would be critisized by the opposition. So they made what they judged right. At the very end, the consequences for the coastal waterline has been very light, compared with previous experiences (Urquiola, Polycommander, Mar Egeo come to mind) I've seen them all, and I can give my first person oppinion.
On the compensation to fishermen and affected people in general, the payments have been made fast and in full, being the very first time this happens (worth mention the 10 year delay that the socialist party previous experience, whit Mar Egeo wreckage, made the affected suffer).
So, a brilliant thechnical success, both in terms of toxic effects and financial help was tainted and, ultimately, perceived as a failure by the people (of course with the invaluable demagogic help of socialists and communists).
Irak war: again, we were embarked on the right side of the deal (both ethically and pragmatically). Let me guess, again:
Muslim fundamentals are not at war with Spain in particular, but with occidental way of living, that they believe is sinful and deserves bloody (literally) destruction. It has nothing to do (even) with Israeli's pretended atrocities (which I believe are no worse than palestinian ones), but with our values as liberal democratic countries. One can choose not to see this, but blindliness about it won't make this less the truth. Having said this, it is a blatant lie that our involvement in Irak's war will make us any different a target as we were before. If anything, we just raise our head among the meek herd that is comfortable in their believing that you can tame the beast by talking....just as Chamberlain did. I don't think so, thus my position in this regard.
But there is more to our alliance with the US. US has showed that they are the only trustful allies when it comes to our spanish national interests, as happened with Perejil Island's affair. It's worth noting that France blocked any EU action on this regard, alleging that they were "bilateral" affairs between Morocco and Spain. Even Morocco invaded some sovereign spanish land. Or France and Germany stance when Irak war seemed inevitable: they meet themselves and gave birth to a letter condemning US's stance in the affair, letter that other EU countries must adhere to, no questions or debate allowed. Nice show of the respect we deserve from France's point of view (and Germany, btw). I applaud Aznar for his decission, and I honestly think he made the right choice. I only hope Zapatero will have a "realpolitik" taste and keep on with our alliance. I have bad feelings about this, tho. It is "good selling" among people which has been feeded with demagogic perorata for quite a big amount of time about this matter.
So, at the very end, Popular Party period put Spain in very good economical shape, put us on the rightful side on the ugly terror war, and left a scape where honesty is the norm and not the exception when it comes to public money (sadly not so usual in the past). Of course an 8 yr. long mandate has lights and shadows but, overall, it's been great times for democracy in Spain, no matter what demagogic chanters try to deny.
Having said that, I think Popular Party developed some authoritarism in their way of conducting politics, and, in that sense, I'm not totally upset about them losing power. Besides that, Zapatero starts with the proverbial clean sheet, as Aznar did 8 years ago: not enough majority, and a clean past. Enough for me.
As a democrat I am all in favour of new blood in our government. As a truth-loving person, I only hope the new one will focus their sights ahead, and make good use of the good things left by Popular Party. They are not few, IMHO.
Sorry for this kilometer-length post. Anyone going its full length has my respect and compassion.
