The shit in Spain falls mainly in the fan

[The Larch]

And Pablo Iglesias just said that he's leaving politics. 

All those backstabbings and purges to end up like this?

I'll believe it when I see it.

I guess he'll end up in media somewhere, although if I was in his shoes I'd basically want to disappear from the face of earth and be left alone. I don't like the guy or the way he does politics, but the amount of vitriol and plain, unmitigated hate he has been subjected to is way out of proportion with anything reasonable in politics. And the horrible thing is that I can now imagine Ayuso, Vox and Monasterio claiming his political scalp (or ponytail  ) as if they were the ones who managed to make his leave politics.

Btw, the unmitigated hate he receives has also served for something, and it's to reveal the political affinities of plenty of celebrities that would normally never even pronounce themselves about anything remotely controversial or political. It's quite scary, for instance, seeing more than a few of footballers gloating about this and basically openly siding with the Vox hate campaign against him.

I gotta say I quite like Yolanda Díaz, who's supposed to replace him.

Yolanda is indeed ossum, if somebody had to pick up Podemos after him they could do so much worse than her. I must say it was a bit of a surprise for me to see her being propelled to the top right now, she's quite an interesting figure at the moment for the present and immediate future of Spanish politics.

[celedhring]

Yeah, Yolanda might make me vote for them for the first time since I turned 30* 
(I used to be a staunch IU voted back in my young days)

I mean, she looks efficient and focused on getting things done instead of political noise. That's something we really need.

*Forgot I voted for one of those new left melanges that sprouted in the 2015 local elections before Podemos/Comuns organized themselves.

[The Larch]

Yeah, Yolanda might make me vote for them for the first time since I turned 30 
(I used to be a staunch IU voted back in my young days)

I mean, she looks efficient and focused on getting things done instead of political noise. That's something we really need.

Well, she's not IU anymore, she left the party quietly a couple of years ago, IIRC. She's not affiliated with Podemos either, so she's a bit of an independent figure within the party, so I don't know if that bodes well for her or not, as I'm not sure how much internal support she has.

[celedhring]

I was surprised she was named heir apparent by Iglesias, to be frank. She is the most popular Podemos minister, but as you say she's an independent without a power base or political family.

[The Larch]

I was surprised she was named heir apparent by Iglesias, to be frank. She is the most popular Podemos minister, but as you say she's an independent without a power base or political family.

Well, she still belongs to a party... the Spanish Communist Party. 

[Iormlund]

Btw, the unmitigated hate he receives has also served for something, and it's to reveal the political affinities of plenty of celebrities that would normally never even pronounce themselves about anything remotely controversial or political. It's quite scary, for instance, seeing more than a few of footballers gloating about this and basically openly siding with the Vox hate campaign against him.

Wait, you need to be a Voxite to despise Pablemos? 



I have a hard time imagining how new leadership could significantly change the future of the party. For most people Podemos is a dead brand.
A party born of class disillusionment, their focus has instead been nationalist and "woke" rhetoric. They've done nothing of note in government.

[celedhring]

I personally dislike Pablemos quite a bit, but I don't think that's a fair representation. They have got themselves involved in cultural matters because that's what PSOE gave them. All the meat and potatoes ministers are PSOE. Yolanda Díaz has been quietly effective in the only real ministry they got (although she's not from the party). They have pulled PSOE to the left in welfare state matters: the minimum income, increased funding for elderly care, the furlough schemes during the pandemic... all those don't happen or happen with a much smaller scope without Podemos there.

Personally I find all the unhinged populism the most worrying trait of them. Maybe with PI out of the picture that will subside a bit. Or maybe the party will just collapse as he was such an alpha male leader. He's purged or married anybody that got any kind of traction inside the party.

Their support for Catalan nationalism comes, imho, from a misguided belief in them being allies in dismantling Spanish establishment. Chaos is a ladder and all that. Catalan nationalists, incidentally, for the most part despise them.

[Iormlund]

The minimum wage hike is the only thing one could call significant, but it's small potatoes compared to Labour Reform.

As for furlough schemes, I would be wary of bringing up anything related to the management of the pandemic. Even Boris managed to get vaccination right at least.

[Sheilbh]

As for furlough schemes, I would be wary of bringing up anything related to the management of the pandemic. Even Boris managed to get vaccination right at least.

And, more directly comparable, a furlough scheme

[celedhring]

So, the two main separatist parties (ERC and JxCAT) have been locked in coalition negotiations for 2 months since the election, without reaching a deal. Today ERC has said they are pulling out of talks and will try to lead a minority government. They only have 15 days to secure enough abstention votes or we'll get a repeat election. Main blocking points have been organization of the cabinet, control of the Catalan public TV (currently in the hands of JxCAT), and Puigdemont wanting a senior role outside of the government.

It's worth repeating that ERC and JxCAT utterly despise each other. Also, they both signed a pledge before the election to not have coalition talks with unionist parties (and ERC has repeated today that they won't seek those votes, so the only way they can lead a minority government is... with JxCAT votes), so I don't know what they are expecting.

There's still a chance this is just some negotiation tactic, but it would be the third ultimatum that ERC delivers during these talks that isn't followed through, which is not something you want to do if you want your ultimatums to be taken seriously...

[celedhring]

Spain's favorite nazi has held a rally in front of the Israel embassy in Madrid.



I find it weird to see a bunch of racists with a big "INTIFADA" banner, but I guess antisemitism still trumps everything.

[The Brain]

I've caned worse for less.

[Josquius]

So...I want to join this organisation.... just how little racism can I get away with?

[celedhring]

So...I want to join this organisation.... just how little racism can I get away with?

They're really extreme, except they ditch the brown shirts for a cocktail dress.

[The Larch]

Any passably pretty girl in a dress would stand out like a super model in the middle of such a herd of thugs.