Aznar given job at News Corp.

Aznar (in the background)Former Spanish PM, Jose Maria Aznar, has been appointed to the board of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. His apparently advisory role comes after he impressed fellow right-winger, Murdoch, whose News Corp owns the famously reactionary Fox News Channel.

Aznar is recognised globally for his unflinching support for the invasion of Iraq and the development of Spain's economy. By many here, he's remembered for introducing pro-business, anti-worker legislation; fomenting division and radicalism in Spanish society, constant press conferences and using state funds to pay for his daughter's wedding (at which Tony Blair was a witness). He's also remembered as a prissy, short-arsed, mostachioed little señorito.
None of the news reports about Aznar have chosen to mention his youthful enthusiasm (AKA brown-nosing) for fascist dictator, Francisco Franco, or his subsequent refusal to condemn Franco's multitude of crimes against the people of Spain.

Those on the left here will be saddened and disappointed that a man who - at the very least held the fascist dictator in great esteem - has been appointed to such a powerful role in the world's largest news and media organisation. It shouldn't affect many of us too much (though I am a subscriber to Sky television, another News Corp holding), but it's further recognition for a man that many of us had hoped would stew in his right-wing think tank for the rest of his days. I can only guess that Aznar's rhetoric gave Murdoch what would equate to a hard-on, though this is tough, and repulsive, to imagine.

(picture stolen from Guirilandia's blog - with thanks)

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June 22, 2006 | Filed Under Politics, Spain 

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7 Responses to “Aznar given job at News Corp.”

  1. coco on June 23rd, 2006 12:03 am

    Well Tom, and this surprised you? After all our world is liberal, right wing and capitalist (Rupert Murdoch is the-first-of-the-class in this three subjects). Nothing to do against this, because who is really in the power are the big multinational companies, and not the political will.
    Our former friend Ansar [sic] is only getting his reward for being such an asshole…a smart asswhole. But so dumb that he still supports Irak's war claiming we may still find mass-destruction-weapons, when his friends Bush and Blair have already claimed they comit a mistake refering this question.
    The only I hope is we will never elect such a President to rule our country. But who knows, some people would even vote Zaplana or Acebes… let's see if Rajoy is candidate at the next elections (http://www.elpais.es/articulo/elpporopi/20060622elpepiopi_6/Tes/España/rompe)
    Coco

  2. Tom on June 23rd, 2006 12:28 am

    Hmm… nothing really surprises me anymore. I'm jaded and cynical. But I'm still disappointed. The disappointment is mixed with a strange sense of vindication: Fox News is really run by fascists now!!

    As to whether Rajoy remains leader, I've already said that I doubt he can contiune in this role. He is rated below even Josep-Lluis Carod-Rovira in the polls. Acebes would be a surprising choice for leader of the PP. While extremely right-wing, I get the impression that there are reasons why he won't be selected… perhaps there's something we don't know about him?

  3. coco on June 23rd, 2006 12:54 am

    Acebes and Zaplana and extremely right wing, but this is not the reason why they are not going to be candidates (they are too much burnt to reach the presidency). I would not be surprised with a new right wing candidate. My personal guess, according to the actual situation in the PP, Esperanza Aguirre. She belongs to the ultra right wing within the PP, but she is at the same time a good politician (some people thinks she seems stupid, although she has taken charge of the Ministry of Education, the presidency of Senate and now the Madrid's region one…)
    What do u think?
    Coco

  4. Tom on June 23rd, 2006 1:11 am

    Yes, Aguirre's definitely a candidate. I've never thought she was stupid. She's no Ana Palacio. A female candidate would be perfect, seeing as there's no way they could get away with a gay candidate,

  5. Graeme on June 23rd, 2006 9:28 am

    The PP doesn't really have any mechanism for changing its leader, Rajoy was put there by Aznar and he won't be removed without Aznar's approval - which more or less guarantees that anyone else who gets the job will be from the hard right of the party. Changing your candidate is an admission that things are not being done the right way and normally means losing even more ground in opinion polls - doesn't mean it can't happen but it will be much easier after an election than before it

  6. guirilandia on June 24th, 2006 10:50 pm

    He's what you call "espabilao", an opportunist. BTW what pic of mine? I don't see one.

  7. guirilandia on June 24th, 2006 10:52 pm

    Oh shit, now I do. I guess my adsl isn't happy today. De nada.

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