Lockdown Sceptic Party Wins Resounding Victory in Spanish Election
Heartening news today ahead of our own elections tomorrow. The People’s Party (PP) in Madrid led by regional assembly President Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who campaigned under a “Freedom” banner and who is credited with keeping lockdown restrictions to a minimum in the city, won 65 of the 136 seats available in the assembly. The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), which is the national governing party, was trounced, receiving just 16.85% of the vote, leaving it with a record low of just 24 seats, down from 37 two years ago. Euronews has more.
The PP’s conservative regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso (PP) had campaigned under the slogan of “Freedom”, championing relaxed COVID-19 measures and criticising the approach of the national government, led by Socialist Pedro Sánchez, to managing the pandemic in Spain.
Ayuso had called the election after the PP’s coalition with the liberal Cuidadanos party collapsed two years into its mandate.
Speaking on Tuesday, she said the results backed her policies of keeping bars, restaurants and other businesses open even at the height of the pandemic to keep the economy moving.
She told voters: voters: “We promise you two more years of freedom of governance, bringing down taxes, protecting public, private and special education. To look after our health care system and to look after all the great things that we have constructed amongst us all.
“We are not going to let you down. We are going to govern with respect and above all else, and I repeat again for the thousandth time we go forward with the flag of freedom leading us. Long live Madrid, Long live Spain.”
Does this mean Laurence Fox is going to do better than expected tomorrow? We can but hope.
Worth reading in full.
Stop Press: The Guardian has published its own rather grudging report of last night’s victory for common sense.
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Between two fires:
On one side it’s Spanish post-fascist party stemming directly from Franco’s fascist (falangists) which Spain never properly denounced; and on other side are socialist lockdown zealots. Great…
I was for Catalan independence, still kind of am. Was really disappointed when Catalan pro-independence center-left party was trying to outperform Spanish center-left socialists on lockdown lunacy.
Nothing about Catalonia is straightforward, as Orwell taught us.
During a final fling of youth I once left Spain with Catalonia badge on my car bumper in place of the old ‘GB’ oval sticker, got some very odd looks from the border police.
Anyway, Andy Burnham please take note.
Was really disappointed when Catalan pro-independence center-left party was trying to outperform Spanish center-left socialists on lockdown lunacy.
Shades of Scotland here. Considering that it was always going to be difficult to outperform Boris and his bunch of crooks in terms of lunacy, you really do have to admire the efforts of Nicola Sturgeon, whose performance has exceeded what were already very high expectations.
And yet the U.K. media says nothing and tells us how hard the Spanish “lockdown” is.
Yes! Today was the first time the Guardian said that Ayuso had kept bars and restaurants open in Madrid and then, rather pathetically and predictably, rolls the numbers out. Of course they never bother to compare the numbers showing this had no effect (or even mention the recent SAGE report) – that would just be too much intellectual stretch or objective journalism for them to indulge in. Shame. Used to be a decent paper.
Teebs, the only thing which vexes me about this great web site is the constant links to the lying joke so called newspaper you mention.
first one was very hard… we couldnt exercise
Yeah, a brilliant coup for public health that was. Weren’t children locked up for weeks on end, as well?
It’s really not that bad here on the costa. Bars/restaurants open till 10pm. Six to a table, full capacity outdoors, 30% indoors. (Weather conducive to alfresco imbibing). Sodding masks are a PITA though. Compulsory outdoors unless exercising. Some folk are manic about wearing them even beach-walking solo with no-one else in sight. Madness!
They are a bit selective. They praised the strict lockdown of Greece and ignored the fact that it did not prevent a second wave or even a somewhat weaker third wave. All that using of an SMS to tell Constable Plodostatis that you were going to the shops made no difference.
My local election candidates represent Labour, Green (she is someone my business used to employ, away with the fairies most of the time when sober), Conservative and Lib Dem (he previously stood as a Conservative). Not exactly representative of the Spanish PP, let alone Laurence Fox or anyone else like him.
For the first time in 48 years I am going to vote for none of them, but in a petulant manner I will spoil my ballot paper. Childish yes, but I am no longer represented by anyone in Parliament or in any political party in the UK for whom I can vote.
I shall be doing likewise, it says mire than not voting at all.
#metoo.
Although you could consider composing an email why you are not voting for the candidates, and sending it to them, as well as spoiling your ballot. Just so they know. I did and got a response which suggested I had at least provoked some thought.
It’s not childish to vote ‘none’. If none of the candidates represent your views, you shouldn’t vote for them. Be proud you voted ‘none’ – it’s the only vote that can make a difference in these circumstances.
(I also voted ‘none’)
EDIT: just wanted to add that some people will argue that local elections shouldn’t be about politics (my Tory candidate actually said this on his leaflet), and entirely about the maintenance of your local area. Problem for this guy is that his campaign is funded by the most extreme government this country has ever seen. If he didn’t want to be dragged down by this inconvenient association, he should have gone independent – and I might have voted for him.
Totally agree. Nothing wrong with writing in “none of the above” or “end lockdowns now”
As it happens I am voting for a sceptic independent where I am, but otherwise I would spoil the paper because this issue is so big it transcends all others. Usually I would vote on local issues.
‘None of the above’ counts for more than ‘none’ or a rude message I understand.
Yes – I believe they count none of the above, but not rude messages!
OK it is still a small message to the political scum, but if enough did so it would be hard to ignore (I know, just wishful thinking anyway).
Not childish at all. It is the only option we have left.
I live here in Spain and I support Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the winner, BUT… NONE of the political parties in Spain are pro-liberties and ALL of them are pro-forced vaccinations and ALL want more restrictions, we have an inconstitucional “state of alarm” for over a year now and that expires next May 9th and the government already approved a new decree that will bring more inconstitucional and perpetual restrictions as now local jurisdictions can bypass ANY judge ruling against inconstitucional restrictions, that means that any local politician can do WHATEVER THEY WANT regardless of any scientific evidence and regardless of what basic human rights dictate, here’s the decree approved just yesterday: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2021-7351
I live here in Spain and I support Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the winner, BUT… NONE of the political parties in Spain are pro-liberties and ALL of them are pro-forced vaccinations and ALL want more restrictions, we have an inconstitucional “state of alarm” for over a year now and that expires next May 9th and the government already approved a new decree that will bring more inconstitucional and perpetual restrictions as now local jurisdictions can bypass ANY judge ruling against inconstitucional restrictions, that means that any local politician can do WHATEVER THEY WANT regardless of any scientific evidence and regardless of what basic human rights dictate, Spain is BANKRUPT and has to obey whatever the European Union says… here’s the decree approved just yesterday: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2021-7351
And now on to the referendum in Switzerland next month!
It looks like “Cisco Systems” may be added to Twitter and Facebook. The link to the NO campaign (seeking to cancel all covidian law) sometimes throws up a “malware alert” by Cisco. Do not believe it. Cut and paste the url:
LOICOVID-non
So a government spokesperson said, “To threaten Jersey like this is clearly unacceptable and disproportionate.”
And yet to threaten us, the people, with disproportionate fines for non adherence to the Covid19 cultish rituals (useless masks , pretending to be ill, self isolating when pretending to be ill etc. etc.) is clearly acceptable. More total bull from the government and media.
The Telegraph used to be better.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/05/05/least-nazis-kept-lights-uk-blasts-france-threat-cut-jerseys/
Agreed! That is why I cancelled my subscription to the Telegraph
It started to be a mouth for government propaganda
Yes. The old media, for which I once worked – it was pretty useless then too – is over. Delingpole’s piece on this in Conservative Woman is spot on.
Other than for a few older journalists, citizen journalism has taken over the Fourth Estate role.
I live in Spain.. Ayuso I dont consider to be a sceptic… I think she was in favour of keeping things running and she may have been on the fence about certain restrictions but only some of the time.. a lightweight sceptic at best
Are they going to ditch the sodding face knickers?
The Covid machine can only function with a very agile and sophisticated psychological campaign to ensure fear and despair is pushed and pulled on the unsuspecting public at key junctures.
Maybe Spain didn’t get the memo?
Can she move to America and run for president? She also wins the prize for Most Comely Politician.
And although they appeal to different demographics, I would judge that Laurence Fox and Isabel Díaz Ayuso are equally attractive. So there is that.
No Reform candidate around here, shame. Only candidates for parties that supported lockdown and restrictions. I will have to spoil my ballot paper, never had to do that before.
Same here.
I was torn. A labour councillor helped me get rid of a county lines drug dealing outfit next door. Plus I only had choice of lib/lab/communist princess nut nut/green…. so I went with labour. Yes I know they are complicit.. but I had to vote locally for this one.
I just took my postal vote in. Cos I forgot to send..
Arrows.. tape.. where to stand lines… I ignored them all. And I don’t bother saying exempt at all now. I just say no.
Women at side in mask.. this way Sir.. Man on door in mask with bacterial gel on a table.. could you clean your hands sir? Nope. I don’t do that. Mask Sir? Nope. I don’t do masks. Walked straight past him and inside maskless with my filthy hands whilst he shouted ‘come back!’ Inside ‘mask sir!’ screamed a funny lady. Nope. I don’t do masks I repeated. Handed my postal vote letter in. Milfy chick at door (masked – but I could tell she was pretty) winked at me on the way out…. I could also tell, despite her mask, she was smiling. In nazi Germany all of these people would have followed orders.. I prove everyday that I would not. Anne Frank would have been in my hoardy untidy bacteria friendly house.
I just turned that polling station upside down. lol CHAOS!!!!
And I expect you giggled all the way home – bravo!
I did.. it was like doing a parachute jump…
Yup. Just voted in N London. Station full of political theatre helping Boris. Masks MUST be worn notices, discriminating against the disabled, no “unless…” Gel everywhere despite the fact that we know it’s no risk from touch. Highly biased presentation intended to help a Prime Minister governing by decree.
Only one at a time allowed in at my voting station. So glad I went early when it was quiet.
The ‘Far Right’ Vox stood still and a mainstream party managed to win by being a little bit sensible. The main Left party tanked and the leader of the Far Left left politics altogether in a huff. Not a terrible result all round.