Enough is enough, we cannot go on like this

At this time of year, we celebrate with little enthusiasm, but rather with much misery and filth, that fifty years ago, through the natural course of events and without forcing anything or anyone at that moment or its circumstances and consequences, Spain freed itself from a situation and way of life that many consider to have been a great scourge and, without being very aware of it, was also the origin of the moment and subsequent events that broke the chains of a dictatorship already softened by the passage of time and the obvious reality that, with ups and downs, brought to our lands and people the seed for reconciliation and the swift, peaceful and decisive transition towards democracy and our full integration into a Europe where the embers of a great war, the second in a few years, were still smouldering, and the vestiges and wounds of convulsive and totalitarian movements of opposing signs, which left millions dead, destruction and great misery in their wake, were yet to be healed.  

We began a new and brilliant era in which the newly proclaimed King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, played a major role for several very important reasons. His almost immediate renunciation of most of the powers inherited from Franco as head of state, culminating in the proclamation of the 1978 Constitution, the change in Spain's image abroad and, a few years later, his decisive action, whether voluntary or induced by people who loved Spain, in the face of a disillusioned and nostalgic military that staged a coup attempt on a fateful 23 February.

These dates coincide with the conclusion of the trial of the Attorney General by the Supreme Court, which, as its name suggests, is the highest level of the judiciary itself; although, in a truly incomprehensible manner, its decisions and rulings are also subject to the discretion or hesitations of the well-known Constitutional Court, whose mission, incidentally, is not focused on or limited to overturning the judicial decisions of other courts of justice, but rather to ensuring that they do not deviate from the precepts and rights enshrined in our Constitution.

This ruling, in the absence of knowledge of the extent of the final sentence and its legal basis, has constituted an unprecedented event in any democratic country in the region and has not been favourable to the figure and image of the said prosecutor and, therefore, totally disagreeable to a government which, unfortunately, seems to be known as predisposed or inclined - throughout its entire term - to living far removed from certain constitutional precepts and, at times, even contrary to the respect and inviolability of the three powers on which our democratic coexistence is based. On the contrary, it has been prone to harsh, inappropriate and vulgar criticism of all those, including the various courts, who stray from its desires, preferences or will.

A government that appears to and actually tries to control, criticise and attack anyone or anything that is not of its own persuasion or self-proclaimed progressive ideology, using for these purposes and as a shield or barrier “a wall” which, according to statements by Sánchez himself, has been built by him and those who sail in his ship to prevent, at the very least, the other half of Spain and the rest of the Spanish people from aspiring to anything by instilling fear, rumours and self-defined mudslinging to give the impression that they are some kind of backward barbarians who despise all democratic values, attack equality and belittle the rights won by women and the diverse and varied sexual orientations that are now widespread in much of the civilised world.

20 November marked the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the monarchy in Spain and, coincidentally, the main actor in this was not invited to the official ceremony due to certain personal behaviours that were far from exemplary and, fundamentally, due to major problems and enmities within the royal family itself or, quite simply, because this government, as it has been making clear day after day, is irritated and annoyed by anything that smacks of the monarchy, and even more so by Juan Carlos I.

Today, as a gesture for public consumption and with little or no publicity, the current and former royal families were allowed to meet in full, albeit at the Pardo Palace, in order to avoid unwanted images and reminiscences of what was once the Zarzuela and all its trappings.

While all this is happening, we have seen that our Prime Minister - who, as everyone knows, is a keen attendee at all international events, whether they are important, unimportant or irrelevant - has taken advantage of a G-20 meeting far away from Spain, even though he has no leading or supporting role to play there, has escaped from Spain and avoided accompanying King Felipe VI at this moment of substance and significance, and has only made a few laconic and absurd statements about “information and power” in an inconsequential speech delivered and announced in advance on the afternoon in question. He has instructed his loyal and indomitable lackeys and the sadly famous and synchronised media to fill the airwaves with filth and attack the decision of the court as a whole and the judges who have ruled against his wishes and preferences.

This is not the first time that Sánchez has abandoned the king and criticised him at serious or momentous times. We all remember the image of his cowardly retreat in Paiporta when he was rebuked by people left homeless by the destruction caused by the recent storm Dana, and we are aware of the heated and disrespectful exchanges between the two that followed.

We are aware of the many and great limitations placed on his reign and how limited his words and messages are so that the King does not confuse some or outrage others; but we also know how limited or highly directed his international or national agenda is due to the personal imposition of Sánchez himself.

I am not at all in favour of military uprisings or impositions by force; on the contrary, I prefer that it be the will of the people, expressed at the ballot box if possible, that puts everyone in their place; However, I believe that, as this impasse is dragging on, we should give much more support to King Felipe VI and send him a clear message that we are behind him, encouraging him to try, as his father did, to change the situation that is holding us back, simply through the use of strong and decisive words.

What is clear is that this situation will not change with just kind words and quasi-paternal advice, as has been the case to date, because bad and ingrained habits and customs are not eradicated or evaporate on their own.