Like it or not, these last elections once again highlight an eternal obviousness: the small parties (initially born under neighborhood impulses with anxiety for change in their closest environments) have a very difficult time making a dent in the current "democratic" framework. It is not enough to gather and train a group of hardworking people, with awareness for community building and with having structured a model of municipality through coherent content born from the knowledge of the strangeness of neighborhoods, towns and / or localities.
If it is already commendable to fight with the big brands, facing the cycles and voting trends (the so-called protest vote of the "discontented citizens" with the management of traditional parties: weather vane wills) of the moment adds a trait of heroism and naivety to these humble formations. Without resources, with little logistical capacity and lacking media support, things become murkier. The "big brand parties" do not need an extraordinary effort to be. They obtain by roots and "status" acceptable minimums of citizen confidence (depending on the circumstances with greater or lesser success, but always present...).
These political giants have their unconditional fans, those who do not falter despite the journeys of dark clouds through which they all usually transit. These staunch fans are not guided by the proposals of their soul party, nor even the ideological premises... Their timeless loyalty is clinging to feelings of belonging and identity to a group / collective. They cannot avoid being dragged by a desire for personal acceptance. There is no need for analytical processes on the realities or the functioning of the party, the management of its leaders, how decisions are made, etc. Despite the tireless work that some political formations have developed in their localities, the closeness, the help they have given in solidarity to the citizens, being firsthand connoisseurs of community needs,... Despite all this, when the polls close, most of these humble groups barely get representation. In many cases null or residual...
There is a subjective element of the last hour difficult to explain, a kind of "impulse promoting the usefulness of the vote." And that usually resolves in favor of the big brands. The uncertainties that demand security are accentuated, the appearance of a "solid" bet that protects the baggage offered by traditional parties... However, sometimes, some of these small parties manage to be and participate in public management. And then, they usually stumble over the same stones, become predictable and submissive, accepting without further ado the suspicious weaknesses of administrative functioning. Internal fissures begin, the struggle for public notoriety, decisions without consensus, the guidelines of a few. They sacrifice their essence, unable to structure a skeleton of stable organization. The inexperience in the face of crisis situations, the absence of clear procedures and the appearance of "desolation" in key references end up completing the formation's jam. I think this story sounds familiar, it repeats itself over and over again.
Perhaps this explains the permanent and contradictory commitment of the citizen to the big parties. However, I vindicate the small parties. Those who show no hurry to occupy a position, those who want to collaborate and participate in community without interested and unexpected pretensions. The road is more complex, but the experience and the process in its development is wonderful. They should not renounce their primary ideas, without avoiding their reformulation to advance and adjust their actions / actions to the new realities; remember the essence that made them meet... If they do not falter they will become visible, creating their own space in the community consciousness and being appreciated for their efforts.
The nefarious breath of the far right feels very close. In a few months they will be co-governing hand in hand with the traditional right (in appearance more calm and rational). Its shadow lengthens every day, the veil of intuition fades, emerging with firm step and greater clarity the reality of the evidence in the form of electoral support. Despite everything (although it is difficult to specify) it is still possible to stop this nonsense, this "democratic" rudeness that offers us an poisoned security based on the devastation of consolidated social rights, which takes us back to times of turmoil and a seedy Spain. Avoiding this disaster may be a good start for some small parties...
Agustín Enrique García Acosta. Social Worker.