A protester wearing a mask depicting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy demonstrates outside Madrd’s High Court yesterday, where the People’s Party disgraced ex-treasurer Luis Bárcenas was testifying before a judge. The text in the blanket reads in Spanish: “Bárcenas take the lid out.”
Calls for PM to resign stem from the country’s economic problems
BUENOS AIRES – Mariano Rajoy is under pressure. The outrage building in Spain right now has been prompted by the release of a series of very friendly text messages from the prime minister to the governing People Party’s (PP) disgraced former treasurer Luis Bárcenas, and it seems the opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) has picked this moment to go on the attack.
And the method of attack itself is particularly interesting. The Socialists, who have close to 22 percent of public support in recent surveys, have actually seen their backing fall of late. They have little to gain by forcing a dissolution of Parliament and an early election.
As a consequence, they have chosen to focus their anger on Rajoy. Bringing down the government would mean a new election, one that potentially may not go well for the PSOE. Toppling the prime minister is far more feasible, and it seems, more doable.
With Rajoy in their crosshairs, the Socialists are working hard, attacking him whenever they have the chance.
“The PP may have an absolute majority (in Parliament) but it has lost moral authority,” said PSOE Deputy Secretary General, Elena Valenciano yesterday. “We are going to work with all the parties to make the prime minister step down.”
Politically, the Socialists cannot call for a vote of no confidence as they don’t have enough seats in Parliament, but by increasing the pressure on Rajoy, they may also convince some PP backbenchers to join their call. So far, the prime minister has managed to limit the scandal’s impact, but when press conferences with another country’s premier are being dominated by questions about an alleged scandal, a political leader knows he has his back to the wall.
Unsurprisingly, the PP denies any illegal activity entirely and yesterday its members took to the airwaves in a media blitz. First up, it was Rajoy himself, denying claims of improper behaviour at a press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
“The rule of law does not bow to blackmail,” he told reporters. “On February 3, I made a public statement on the PP’s position on this matter, by which I stand,” the PP leader said. He was followed by his less-illustrious party members.
“The Popular Party has nothing to fear, our books are clean,” said Carlos Floriano, the party’s deputy national organizer.
For the PP, the problem is that statements like these may not hold too much weight with the electorate. With other high-profile tales of corruption currently working their way through the country’s courts, such as those against Princess Cristina and her husband Iñaki Urdangarín, and with even King Juan Carlos having to deny he has foreign bank accounts, the majority of people are fed up to the back teeth of tales of graft and privilege. With tales like these in the press, isn’t it logical to assume corruption is endemic? Why would you believe the words of government ministers who are having to deny allegations left, right and centre?
Analysts are divided over whether Rajoy will be heading toward the emergency exit, but if his position becomes untenable, the PP may even turn on him. Rajoy says the scandal will not derail his programme of political reform, as he aims to combat the recession, but his public image has been damaged.
Overseas, investors are also watching closely to see what impact the scandal has on Spain’s government and most importantly, its economy. Luis de Guindos, economy minister, declared confidently yesterday the scandal was not hurting the country’s reputation with foreign investors.
It’s not all bad news for the economy and Spain’s workers though. For one small segment of society, there was some good news. Bloomberg reported yesterday that Spanish investment bankers were paid an average of almost two million euros in 2011, about 45 percent more than their British peers.
At this point, it’s also worth noting that last year Spain sought a bailout for its banking system amid fears that government finances would be contaminated by failing savings banks, such as the Bankia group.Not to mention that unemployment this year peaked at 27 percent, the highest level in 27 years.
No wonder money is such a touchy subject in Spain right now.
Originally published in the Buenos Aires Herald, on Tuesday, July 16, 2013.
Link: http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/136137/why-spain’s-socialists-smell-blood.
© J. GRAINGER, 2013