Acebes misuses the 'F' word

It is a fascist practice to attribute to a political party intentions that it does not have

So says Angel Acebes, attributing the fascist tag - most incorrectly - to the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC). The reason that Acebes has decided to use the 'F' word so ill-advisedly is that the PSC is campaigning for a 'yes' vote in the forthcoming Estatut referendum with the catchphrase 'The PP will use your 'No' vote against Catalonia'.

Obviously, the PP find this grossly unfair and have thus redefined fascism in order to use the label against their Catalan opponents. An amusing aspect of this new definition of fascism is that by definition, it also applies to the PP who, by trying to redefine the term in order that it apply to the PSC, are themselves attributing false labels and intentions to their rivals.

Another amusing thing about all this is that the PP seem to be missing the point. This has nothing to do with them, and everything to do with two radically opposed Catalan parties: Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) and Ciutadans de Catalunya (CC). Both of these parties are opposed to the Estatut, but for wildly differing reasons. ERC say it doesn't go far enough, CC say it goes too far and that all nationalism should be dropped due to its divisive effects.

In their 'yes' campaign, the PSC are trying to warn ERC and CC 'no' voters that they are only really helping the PP with their 'no' votes. While the truth of this angle is debatable, it seems pretty obvious that the PP are not, and never will be, considered a genuine threat to Catalan politics. It is the fear of helping them out in Madrid which the PSC is trying to capitalise on - and they'll probably be successful.

Share This
May 22, 2006 | Filed Under Catalonia, Politics, Spain 

Comments

2 Responses to “Acebes misuses the 'F' word”

  1. guirilandia on May 23rd, 2006 1:56 pm

    Man, if everybody is fascist in Spain we’re in big trouble, especially if these fascists will never agree with each other. Is there one political party that makes sense?

    My opininion on the whole Estatut thing and the ensuing controversy is that the ERC is going to drive more votes to the PP on the national level and PSOE knows that.

  2. Tom on May 23rd, 2006 3:17 pm

    yeah and all the while CiU sit and wait…

Leave a Reply




Close
E-mail It