Spanish elections and politics II: Catalan elections on February 14, 2021

[Skye]

https://twitter.com/PabloIglesias/status/1328647145478615040

Thanks, Pablo, this is really the tweet I needed right now 🙄

[Velasco]

Pablo Iglesias is clearly mocking all his haters in Tweeter; whom apparently use that hashtag. Not a fan of Iglesias wearing his hair in a  bun (moño), but far right trolls are gonna hate regardless his hairstyle

[Skye]

Pablo Iglesias is clearly mocking all his haters in Tweeter; whom apparently use that hashtag. Not a fan of Iglesias wearing his hair in a  bun (moño), but far right trolls are gonna hate regardless his hairstyle

Wasn't his nickname "El Coletas"?

[BigSerg]

Yeah, I think the Bildu active support was not negotiated by PSOE (maybe by UP, but even that's far from certain)

In fact, their support almost feels to me as a blank cheque lol.

It's not like the Navarra "big brain" maths to get Chivite elected regional premier, where GBai negotiated with Bildu to abstain while PSOE negotiated with GBai or sothing like that.

It's not exactly a blank cheque, but it's not that PSOE and UP sold themselves to Otegi. Pablo Iglesias celebrated the Otegi statements, because the Bildu support helps UP to keep Cs out of the deal. I don't know if Bildu and UP negotiated anything (probably not), but Iglesias has good contacts with separatist and nationalist parties and he talks with everybody, with the likely exception of Santiago Abascal

PSOE and GBai form a coalition government in Navarra. They need to negotiate that Bildu votes in favour or abstain, because NA+ is not going to help to pass the budget. That's not strictly necessary in the Congress of Deputies. But again we have a case of double standards. The Spanish Right demonizes the "heirs of ETA" and the " communists*" (saying that Podemos us "populist" and "Bolivarian" is old-fashioned, apparently), while bleaches the Francoist agents of Trump (Casado once said the Vox dudes are "constitutionalists"). I concur that it's positive to normalize Bildu, which has a leftwing platform compatible with other psrties on social and economic issues, regar yo criticize Otegi's ambiguity on other issues related to ETA or the victims (not forgetting on the other side that GAL victims need recognition, too). Anyway there's no big difference between Arnakdi Otegi and Gerry Adams (they are good friends)

* I heard the new PP spokeswoman Cuca Gamarra arguing that limiting rent prices is a communist measure, so I guess Berlin has gone back behind the Iron Curtain

lol, what a ridiculous argument is this? lying also has a limit

https://twitter.com/WillyTolerdoo/status/1328345768604946438?s=20

[BigSerg]

Yeah, I think the Bildu active support was not negotiated by PSOE (maybe by UP, but even that's far from certain)

In fact, their support almost feels to me as a blank cheque lol.

It's not like the Navarra "big brain" maths to get Chivite elected regional premier, where GBai negotiated with Bildu to abstain while PSOE negotiated with GBai or sothing like that.

It's not exactly a blank cheque, but it's not that PSOE and UP sold themselves to Otegi. Pablo Iglesias celebrated the Otegi statements, because the Bildu support helps UP to keep Cs out of the deal. I don't know if Bildu and UP negotiated anything (probably not), but Iglesias has good contacts with separatist and nationalist parties and he talks with everybody, with the likely exception of Santiago Abascal

PSOE and GBai form a coalition government in Navarra. They need to negotiate that Bildu votes in favour or abstain, because NA+ is not going to help to pass the budget. That's not strictly necessary in the Congress of Deputies. But again we have a case of double standards. The Spanish Right demonizes the "heirs of ETA" and the " communists*" (saying that Podemos us "populist" and "Bolivarian" is old-fashioned, apparently), while bleaches the Francoist agents of Trump (Casado once said the Vox dudes are "constitutionalists"). I concur that it's positive to normalize Bildu, which has a leftwing platform compatible with other psrties on social and economic issues, regar yo criticize Otegi's ambiguity on other issues related to ETA or the victims (not forgetting on the other side that GAL victims need recognition, too). Anyway there's no big difference between Arnakdi Otegi and Gerry Adams (they are good friends)

* I heard the new PP spokeswoman Cuca Gamarra arguing that limiting rent prices is a communist measure, so I guess Berlin has gone back behind the Iron Curtain

lol, what a ridiculous argument is this? lying also has a limit

https://twitter.com/WillyTolerdoo/status/1328345768604946438?s=20

Arnaldo Otegi: Otegi has been imprisoned up to five times. The last, in 2009, for an armed gang membership offence in the Bateragune case.

Arkaitz Rodríguez: He was convicted along with Arnaldo Otegi for belonging to the terrorist gang ETA in the Bateragune case. Rodriguez was arrested in 2009 and sentenced to six years in prison.

Bergoi Madernaz del Pozo: served time for integration into the terrorist gang ETA. Madernaz was arrested in France with other young people by French police authorities in February 2011 after escaped from the Basque Country. He spent four years in prison.

https://www.elespanol.com/espana/20200714/politica-miembros-bildu-pagaron-prision-colaboracion-eta/504979503_3.html#img_2

Vox Francoists...

[Zinneke]

You are the internet equivalent of a cani. Pipe down and put your gelpot and white polo tshirt away.

[Velasco]

See, ETA ceased operations in October 2011 and disbanded in May 2018. The terrorist group was DEFEATED by the Spanish democracy, with a very special mention to Interior minister Rubalcaba and PM Zapatero (thank you!). The "heirs of ETA" have engaged in politics; which is another extraordinary achievement of our democratic regime, imperfect but more sólid than many people think. Sortu, the successor of Batasuna and the main party within EH Bildu, is a legal party because its manifesto explicitly rejects violence as a mean to achieve the independence of Euskal Herria. Likewise the "heirs of Franco" are engaged in polítics within PP and Vox; which is also extraordinary

I mean, our current problems arserious and tricky enough to mess around with the shadow of a defunct terrorist group. We must remember our history and honor the victims of Franco or ETA, but EH Bildu, PP and Vox have the right to exist as polítical organizations

ETA was DEFEATED

[Velasco]

Pablo Iglesias is clearly mocking all his haters in Tweeter; whom apparently use that hashtag. Not a fan of Iglesias wearing his hair in a  bun (moño), but far right trolls are gonna hate regardless his hairstyle

Wasn't his nickname "El Coletas"?

Yes, but recently he has removed his ponytail and wears his hair in a bun. I think the former hairstyle is better

[BigSerg]

https://twitter.com/elconfidencial/status/1328724661375479811?s=20

[Former President tack50]

Pablo Iglesias is clearly mocking all his haters in Tweeter; whom apparently use that hashtag. Not a fan of Iglesias wearing his hair in a  bun (moño), but far right trolls are gonna hate regardless his hairstyle

Wasn't his nickname "El Coletas"?

It was and still is called that way often.

[Former President tack50]

You are the internet equivalent of a cani. Pipe down and put your gelpot and white polo tshirt away.

I mean, most canis would actually not wear polo tshirts but rather sports tracksuits or other similar stuff

[Zinneke]

You are the internet equivalent of a cani. Pipe down and put your gelpot and white polo tshirt away.

I mean, most canis would actually not wear polo tshirts but rather sports tracksuits or other similar stuff

i regret to inform you this is now a trend

[Former President tack50]

Yesterday, the "Organic Law for the Modification of the Organic Education Law", but more commonly known as the "Celaá Act" after minister of education Isabel Celaá, passed the parliamentary comisions and will shortly be voted upon by the entire Congress.

This is a very controversial education law which the Spanish right has critizised a lot recently, and has even seen some protests and concentrations against it. Here are some of the main points from the bill:

> Spanish will no longer be recognized as the "Vehicular language" of education. This basically means that a right to get a Spanish education in Catalonia is no longer guaranteed. Catalonia's education laws, unlike those from the other regions with cooficial languages mandate that catalan is the only language of education. The other regions give parents the choice of language to educate their kids.

> The Religion class will no longer count towards your GPA equivalent, for the purposes of university access and what not.

> A new Ethic and Civic values class gets added to the primary and middle school curriculum

> Repeating a school year shall be considered exceptional and is no longer automatic. Basically, rules about repeating a school year have been loosened and now it won't be an automatic thing (More than X failed classes = repeat year) and students may pass with 1-2 failed classes

> Following from the above, students are now able to get their "Bachillerato title" (year 12) with up to 1 failed class

> Charter schools may not segregate students based upon gender

> 10 years from now, schools must be able to give classes to disabled students

> The main criteria for school choice when demand overtakes supply shall be siblings in the school, rent and proximity

> The "social demand" criteria when deciding whether or not to authorize the creation of new charter schools is abolished

https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/4479611/0/ley-celaa-lomloe-espanol-lengua-vehicular-eleccion-centro-educacion-especial/


My personal opinion on this bill is that it is rather meh. I do not oppose it, but given it is a partial repeal of the older Wert act from the Rajoy government, it doesn't really tackle other important points I think, like the infamous examinations and what not.

The right wing criticism comes in 3 flavours I think:

1) An "attack" on charter schools: I am personally in favour of most of the measures here. Public education should be the norm and defended by the state over charter schools. In fact the entire concept of charer schools was thought of as a temporary bandaid in the 1980s! There is nothing as permanent as a temporary solution

2) Spanish being removed from schools in Catalonia: The usual nationalist stuff, this was after an amendment from ERC was accepted. I don't care that much given that the status quo in Catalonia was already little to no Spanish education on public schools. Though I will say that I prefer the Basque model of school choice over Catalonia forcing everyone to learn in Catalan

3) The Socialists promoting mediocrity and allowing people with failed subjects to pass: The only criticism I agree with, this bill will make classes even easier to pass. There is a reason why university professors say (rightly) that their students each year get dumber and dumber. School contents and difficulty have been gradually reduced.

When I was in high school, to study I actually used my parents' BUP and COU books from the 1970s instead of my very own books! Why? Because the things my parents did were harder and that way I was better prepared. Having to do math exercises with pesetas was certainly weird but still.

I don't think we should make school easier tbh. Bachillerato and especially ESO are not that hard to pass. I am not saying we should make it harder either, but certainly not any easier. The LOGSE from 1990 probably already reduced education difficulty more than enough.


Fun fact: This will be the 8th education law passed since 1970, and 7th since democracy started.

The fact that so many education bills have been passed is hilarious. In fact, my brother has actually studied under 4 different education bills from 4 different governments! (Granted Aznar's LOCE was never fully implemented but still)

[Velasco]

The last CEO poll for Catalonia was released two days ago

Congress of Deputies (47 seats of 350)

ERC 15 (23.9%), PSC 12/13 (21.7%), JxCAT 7/8 (12.3%), ECP 6 (12 5%), PP 3 (8.4%), VOX 2 (6.7%), CUP 1/2 (5.3%), Cs 1 (4.6%), PDeCAT 0 (1.5%)

Parliament of Catalonia (135 seats)

ERC 36/37 (24.4%), JxCAT 28/30 (18.7%), PSC 22/23 (16.8%), Cs 13/14 (10.0%); PP 8/9 (7.0%), CATCOMU-PODEM  7/9 (7.2%), VOX 7/8 (6.4%), CUP 6/8 (5.3%), PDeCAT 0/1 (2.4%)

Support for independence: Yes 43.6%  No 49%, Undecided 5.8%, Don't Answer 1.8%

https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20201120/49552464295/ceo-barometro-erc-ganaria-elecciones-catalanas-independentismo-50-de-votos.html

As for the polítical situación in Spain, it's absurdly complicated as usual. Thankfully there are a few individuals able to decipher it for me. Hats off to máster analyst Enric Juliana


https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20201122/49595535754/gobierno-pactos-iglesias-sanchez-ciudadanos-psoe-podemos.html

[NewYorkExpress]

King Felipe VI in quarantine after COVID exposure.

Spanish King Felipe VI began 10 days in quarantine on Monday after being in close contact with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19, Reuters reported.

A Royal House source told the news agency that the 52-year-old canceled his public appearances during the 10-day period. The cancellations came after the close contact tested positive on Monday after being with the king on Sunday.

[Velasco]

Spanish government secures enough support to have the budget passed

https://english.elpais.com/economy_and_business/2020-11-25/spanish-government-secures-pledge-for-budget-deal-with-catalan-basque-support.html

Spanish executive has secured enough support to get its 2021 budget plan approved in Congress, bringing added stability to the minority center-left government of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and Unidas Podemos.

 Spain has been functioning since 2018 with a budget that was approved by the previous Popular Party (PP) administration. The country held a snap election in April of last year after parliament voted down an earlier draft, and this was followed by another early election in November. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of the PSOE is hoping that this new budget deal will see him through the remainder of the political term.

Support is being provided by three regional parties that also backed Sánchez’s return to the prime minister’s office in January of this year. The executive said it has reached a “preliminary deal” with the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), and ensured backing from the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) and Bildu, a far-left Basque party. Together with the governing coalition partners, they represent 179 seats, three more than required for an absolute majority.

The preliminary ideal with ERC incorporates the creation of a "bilateral commission" and a "work group" to develop a fiscal reform and measures of fiscal harmonization between regions, in order to put an end to the Madrid's "tax oasis". Madrid is often accused of tax dumping by other Spanish regions, which deem tax exemptions as unfair competition and lack of solidarity. Madrid's lower taxes might favor the concentration of resources and investment in its region, already favored by the capital estatus, to the detriment of the surrounding regions that are facing increasing depopulation. The PP regional governments have implemented tax cuts since the days of Esperanza Aguirre. Premier Isabel Diaz Ayuso is ready to fight a new battle to defend the "oasis", which is a core value of the rightwing parties in Madrid. Pablo Casado will second her neoliberal crusade, obviously

[Former President tack50]

Tbh I find it kind of ironic that ERC is now supporting centralization and meddling on the affairs of the regions

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

Tbh I find it kind of ironic that ERC is now supporting centralization and meddling on the affairs of the regions

Ironic? This cannot be the first time a Spanish regional party promotes "regionalism for me but not for thee", is it?

[Skye]

At the risk of derailing the thread, this is just way too funny not to share:

https://twitter.com/AutRomaAutNihil/status/1331516384568860673

[Velasco]

Tbh I find it kind of ironic that ERC is now supporting centralization and meddling on the affairs of the regions

Ironic? This cannot be the first time a Spanish regional party promotes "regionalism for me but not for thee", is it?

Maybe ir seems ironic coming from ERC, but tax dumping affects Catalonia too. On the other hand, fiscal harmonization does not strike as a centralist measure to me. Rather I think federal countries should embarace it and discourage policies that create fiscal imbalances. Moreover, Madrid is the region containing the capital of Spain and should lead by example. But the Madrid regional governments have chosen instead to become a tax haven for millionaires, at the expense of public services (years of budget cuts affect public healthcare in times of pandemic) and the rest of Spain. It's quite ironic and hypocritical to see rightwing leaders in Madrid crying at the lack of solidarity of Catalans and Basques, while taking advantage of dumping practices and the advantages of being the capital.  Some people is beginning to compare the 'rebel' Ayuso with the Catalan separatist leaders, because there's a common ground in what concerns the lack of solidarity and sense of state. If ERC is truly interested in tax reform and harmonization, that's excellent news. I fear the ongoing conflict will benefit Ayuso in Madrid, though. The Spanish Right will claim there's an attack on Madrid based on hatred from Catalonia, as it happened when Health minister Salvador Illa was accused by the PP of hating Madrid when he enforced the state of emergency in the region

[Former President tack50]

Tbh I find it kind of ironic that ERC is now supporting centralization and meddling on the affairs of the regions

Ironic? This cannot be the first time a Spanish regional party promotes "regionalism for me but not for thee", is it?

Maybe ir seems ironic coming from ERC, but tax dumping affects Catalonia too. On the other hand, fiscal harmonization does not strike as a centralist measure to me. Rather I think federal countries should embarace it and discourage policies that create fiscal imbalances. Moreover, Madrid is the region containing the capital of Spain and should lead by example. But the Madrid regional governments have chosen instead to become a tax haven for millionaires, at the expense of public services (years of budget cuts affect public healthcare in times of pandemic) and the rest of Spain. It's quite ironic and hypocritical to see rightwing leaders in Madrid crying at the lack of solidarity of Catalans and Basques, while taking advantage of dumping practices and the advantages of being the capital.  Some people is beginning to compare the 'rebel' Ayuso with the Catalan separatist leaders, because there's a common ground in what concerns the lack of solidarity and sense of state. If ERC is truly interested in tax reform and harmonization, that's excellent news. I fear the ongoing conflict will benefit Ayuso in Madrid, though. The Spanish Right will claim there's an attack on Madrid based on hatred from Catalonia, as it happened when Health minister Salvador Illa was accused by the PP of hating Madrid when he enforced the state of emergency in the region

The people of Madrid have voted PP for decades now (Tamayazo not withstanding); on a platform of austerity + tax cuts. I do not agree with that platform, but the people of Madrid have decided that is the model they want for their region. Who is ERC to deny them such privilege?

I am in favour of fiscal balancing, and of rich regions supporting the poorer ones (this is something the EU actually does quite well and that we could pull off nationally too). But this should not be done by the federal government meddling on the affairs of the regions. If the people of Madrid want low taxes and sh*tty healthcare, let them have it. Just likehow Catalonia probably prefers higher taxes and a good safety net.

Bonus points when you consider that the Basque Country has a special tax model that is much closer to "tax dumping" than whatever Madrid does, yet I don't see ERC wanting to abolish it (ftr I do not support abolishing it, but that just adds to the hypocresy)

[Former President tack50]

Tbh I find it kind of ironic that ERC is now supporting centralization and meddling on the affairs of the regions

Ironic? This cannot be the first time a Spanish regional party promotes "regionalism for me but not for thee", is it?

Probably not, but I can't think of all that many examples. The only one I can remember right now is that the Catalan statute of 2006, as originally written, had a provision that directly meddled in the affairs of other regions, saying something like:

-The financial resources of Catalonia may be adjusted to better balance regional development in Spain, provided other regions do a similar fiscal effort

That was one of the 14 articles that were completely deleted as unconstitutional though. (unsurprising as that was blatantly unconstitutional)

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

Tbh I find it kind of ironic that ERC is now supporting centralization and meddling on the affairs of the regions

Ironic? This cannot be the first time a Spanish regional party promotes "regionalism for me but not for thee", is it?

Probably not, but I can't think of all that many examples. The only one I can remember right now is that the Catalan statute of 2006, as originally written, had a provision that directly meddled in the affairs of other regions, saying something like:

-The financial resources of Catalonia may be adjusted to better balance regional development in Spain, provided other regions do a similar fiscal effort

That was one of the 14 articles that were completely deleted as unconstitutional though. (unsurprising as that was blatantly unconstitutional)

Wow that was blatant Catalan supremacism lol.

Anyway:
1. I'm surprised #trends haven't hit the region of Madrid yet.
2. [citation needed] on your comment about the EU, because it seems to me that it's always damn complicated to get that.
3. Your above post is a good explanation (not that I needed any - we are on a mainly American forum) of why I think federalism generally sucks.

[Former President tack50]

Anyway:
1. I'm surprised #trends haven't hit the region of Madrid yet.
2. [citation needed] on your comment about the EU, because it seems to me that it's always damn complicated to get that.
3. Your above post is a good explanation (not that I needed any - we are on a mainly American forum) of why I think federalism generally sucks.

1) Yeah, while there has been movement in Madrid lately, it is not the usual #trends of the cities going far left. The posh areas of Madrid (Salamanca neighbourhood) and upper class western suburbs (Las Rozas, Majadahonda, etc) thankfully still give the right routinely 70% or more. As things should be

Iirc Madrid is one of very few European capitals (maybe the only one?) that votes to the right of the country.

Whether or not #trends will eventually hit is a mystery, but for now Madrid remains something like 7 points to the right of Spain at large. Winnable in a wave, but not by much.

2) My thought was that the EU's regional development funds do a great job at propping up the less developed areas of the EU. Spain certainly benefited from this in the 80s and 90s; and nowadays it is Eastern Europe that is catching up very fast to Western Europe.

We just need a similar scheme at the national level.

[CumbrianLefty]

Stockholm still votes to the right of the country as a whole, no? Oslo as well, possibly.