Published in Expansión

Since 1978, Spain is politically divided into 17 regions called “Autonomous Communities”, each enjoying an enormous degree of independence: they have their own legislative body, government and judiciary, decide on regional taxation, control the public health and education systems and some even have their own police forces. All this makes Spain one of the most …

READ MORE >>Spain’s regional Administrations, the cancer that devours us

“Those who manipulate the world count, above all, on the lack of memory of men,” wrote almost half a century ago the great philosopher Julián Marías, an always intelligent and impartial observer with exemplary good faith. Well, let’s remember. In 1985, ten years after Franco’s death, the Center for Statistical Research (know by its acronym …

READ MORE >>The historical lie that destroys us

Many in our country do not seem to understand that Podemos (the extreme left, Leninist-Bolivarian party naïvely labeled as populist by the media) is not just another political party but a real threat to our democratic system of liberties. To unmask its true nature we must start with Venezuela, its origin and cradle. In an …

READ MORE >>A real threat to freedom in Spain

One of our greatest tragedies in today’s Western societies is that we think we are free when in fact we aren’t. Indeed, our era is witness to a gradual decline in personal liberties, as shocking as it is subtle, which has run parallel to the worrying rise in political power. Power is the ability of …

READ MORE >>Slaves of the State and of political correctness

We Spaniards generally hold a negative and hopeless view of our nation’s history and capabilities. This deep and serious national problem, of which little is said, damages our self-esteem as a people, undermining our self-confidence and giving us an undeserved sense of inferiority regarding other countries. The reasons for our low self-esteem are varied, but …

READ MORE >>Spain and its complexes in the face of nationalism

Recently appointed Socialist President Sánchez has been quick to show his extremism as he expressed his wish to resume his totalitarian proposal to reform the Historical Memory Law, which I criticized in these same pages on February 15, 2018. The proposal, backed by all the subversive parties in Congress, literally includes the creation of a …

READ MORE >>Spain’s Freedom and Democracy under attack

Although political alternation is almost always healthy (except in disastrous cases…), Saint Ignatius advised that it’s best not to move in times of tribulations – and Spain is in deep political tribulation. Pedro Sánchez, our incoming president-by-surprise due to Rajoy’s unexpected loss in a confidence vote in Congress, wins his party’s primaries but loses general …

READ MORE >>Times of change

In his classic novel 1984, George Orwell described a sinister totalitarian society of the future supported by three large bureaucratic structures. One of these was the Ministry of Truth, in charge of falsifying historical facts in order to back up the version approved by the Government. Brandishing the slogans “Freedom is Slavery”, “Ignorance is Strength” …

READ MORE >>Spain, 2018: To prison for expressing an opinion?