A few months ago, Stephane Hessel (aged 93), a French veteran of the Resistance and diplomat, wrote the book “Indignez vous!”, which with only 30 pages became a best-seller and the social conscience of France, encouraging people to abandon the indifference and protest against the politics caste, which is not up to current needs. And now it seems that this same social consciousness has come to Spain and made to react (at last!) people here, who seemed to be totally apathetic and behaving like sheep, despite the bad social, political and economical situation that this country is living currently.
The already called “May 15 Movement” has entered hard into the Local and Regional Electoral Campaign. The demonstrators are formed by a very heterogeneous group of people, mostly young people, though there are also many unemployed, housewifes, “mileuristas” (people whose salaries are up to 1000 euros), retired people, civil servants, mortgaged, anti systems, progressive, conservative,……. grouped together after marches were held on May 15 against the failure of Spain’s political leaders to provide solutions to unemployment and the low-wage economy. Over 20 percent of Spaniards are out of work and youth unemployment stands at around 40 percent.
They were convened by an organization called Democracia Real Ya, formed three months before and which informed of the first meeting through the social networks (Twitter and Facebook) and day after day the number of people has been increasing at everywhere.
Protests in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol and in more than 150 other countries across Spain have been running during this whole week, even yesterday, that was the “day of reflection” (today is Local and Regional Elections Day) and in spite of a ruling by the country’s electoral board prohibiting any types of demonstrations before Sunday’s local and regional elections races. And it seems these protests will continue for some more days.
They are mainly complaining about the widespread corruption among the political class, though they have a long list of requests: they also complain about the rivalry between the two great parties that has poisoned the political atmosphere preventing real action being taken to solve the country’s problems, they are contrary to bipartisanship, they are sick of politicians that don’t listen to them, they want to change the Election Law, .......... A priori, they don’t ask to vote for any party, but they don’t call for abstention either.
Perhaps and in the least, this movement will make politicians to think of what they are doing wrong and if they are smart enough they could change their ways in political life. Let us hope so!
26th, MAY
This is a live broadcast of Puerta del Sol in Madrid,
where protesters still remain
Very interesting! I think Americans have the same complaints - the two political parties not getting along, and so caught up in fighting each other (or proving the other wrong) that the people are not heard. Maybe just the nature of the beast worldwide... XOL
ReplyDeleteHi Laura, I suppose you are right and people is dissatisfied everywhere and mostly young people who are quite disappointed and hopeless with politics and politicians. Kisses!
ReplyDeleteUn trabajo muy bueno, felicitaciones. Estupenda toda esta gente que se moviliza por temas que todos sentimos, en Barcelona he visto de todas las edades y muy participativo todo el mundo.
ReplyDeleteSaludos.
Muchas gracias Juan Antonio, me alegro de que te haya gustado la entrada que he hecho. Ya he visto que en Barcelona también habéis tenido bastante movimiento y ha sido estupendo, porque ya era hora de que la gente reaccionara de alguna manera, ya que parecia que la gente en nuestro pais estuviera aletargada y anestesiada.
ReplyDeleteYo solo espero que estas protestas que estamos teniendo tengan repercusión en el futuro y sirvan para que haya cambios radicales de actitudes por parte de todos los politicos. Ojalá ocurra asi.
Un fuerte abrazo,
Nieves, I believe the hypocrisy, indifference and corruption is a social evil that sweeps the nation, some more and some less. In Brazil, almost daily, we listen of atrocities in the policy. The media are the most powerful and ruthless way so that we can know quickly what is delaying the progress of our nation.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Hello Sissy, unfortunately all those things are in many governments around the world, but they shouldn't be nowhere, so these movements at least makes governments and politicians to think it over. Or at least, that is what I would like to believe! Hugs and kisses,
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