Pablo, the Narcissus

We were surprised to learn that the omnipresent ex-leader of Podemos was running for the presidency of the Community of Madrid. An instinctive, mediatic, but unconsidered impulse that had opened up several angles of reflection. From a political point of view, it was a risky move with various consequences, although the candidate's profile augured the worst for the party.

It is clear that Pablo Iglesias' move was a decision taken in the heat of the moment. As a scholar of political science, the Podemos leader should have made a minimum of effort and elaborated an analytical-qualitative study that included all the variables to be weighed in order to calculate at least the opportunity cost of such a decision, and not let himself be carried away by selfishness.

His narcissism has prevented him from being methodological and rational. For one morning, seeing himself reflected in the waters of the stream, he exclaimed to himself: How handsome I am! And then he saw himself disguised as Superman, capable of saving the Community of Madrid and, in the process, taking revenge on Errejón. So, to fragment the votes of the left, here is Mr. Pablo, knowing that neither PSOE nor Más Madrid were going to join him in coalition.

Pablo Iglesias's move is typical of an immature man in self-proclaiming himself a candidate, getting up from his chair as second vice-president to go and fight against his enemies, political and non-political. So much for his selfishness and immaturity.

Going from one gamble to the next means, in politics, recklessness. He should have consulted minister Garzón, whom Pablo Iglesias "proposed" and who, as the Minister of Consumer Affairs, is in charge, among other things, of gambling. So the more he gambles, the more he risks. In this sense, Pablo Iglesias had already made a few gambles and his luck was already changing. The CIS of Tezanos, for the next general elections, had already predicted a draw with Ciudadanos, that is, a collapse at the polls.

A narcissist usually fantasises about success, power or splendour. He comes to believe he is special and unique to the point of generating rejection and hatred around him. In fact, the CIS had already given Pablo Iglesias his worst score in the evaluation of leaders, with a 2.9, according to the February 2021 barometer, before he announced his candidacy.

Pablo Iglesias knew beforehand that he no longer amounted to anything. He has entrusted everything to chance, without caring about the party as a whole. His selfishness has led him to resign, because his personality is made for the brawl, from the barricade, and not from power, the axis of decision-making. Cowardice versus rebellion, the point is to be in the limelight, on one side or the other.

According to Greek mythology, the young Narcissus, deceived by Nemesis, is trapped by his vanity reflected in the pond and ends up committing suicide because he cannot touch the object of his desire. Could a flower called Yolanda sprout from the stream where his body will lie?

If so, UN Podemos will have to reconsider its political strategy if it wants to survive. To do so, it will have to merge with Errejón's Más España, yes or yes.