Until last June 15th, I had never attended a plenary session, much less the inauguration of an elected councilor. Not even the two times that my sister previously obtained her councilor's certificate. But this time it was special for two reasons: first, I was interested in being able to enjoy such a solemn and democratic institutional act that, due to intellectual interest, I had not been able to witness until now, so what better than that of the municipality where I grew up? ; and, second, I wanted to accompany my sister for once in this democratic process, given that the previous two times I was absent due to my profession. Furthermore, on this occasion, she managed to access the government of the council after 8 years in the opposition and that deserves my congratulations and my support, even if we do not share opinions or political ideology.
But, I must admit that at one point in the morning I suffered a notable disappointment in terms of political and human quality.
Carmena said in her farewell speech as mayor of Madrid: "we must take care of democracy." The truth is that I liked the speech, even though I am not close to her. I liked it because she was telling a great truth, and that is that democracy, even if it has mechanisms and tools to defend itself, is nothing if we citizens and elected politicians do not take care of it. As she rightly emphasized, taking care of democracy is taking care of the institutions that are, after all, the structures that allow us to live together in peace in the diversity of opinions and ideologies. The institutions, from the smallest town hall to the most important ministry, are based on democratic principles and values surrounded by education, political stature and the human level of the men and women who work and interact in them every day. We are the ones who give it the meaning it deserves, and we are the ones who must protect them.
Therefore, after listening to the speech by the representative of Podemos, Lava and the Canarian Coalition, I was shocked by Pancho Hernández's speech. This totally denigrated the democratic legitimacy and the image of institutional solemnity that a town hall like Tías deserves.
When sufficient support is not obtained to continue governing after 8 years, as a political opponent in democracy, what should be done is to congratulate the incoming mayor, wish him the best and warn that he will be there to monitor his activities as his position demands. This is what Carmena did in a City Council in which the right wing was entering to govern. Discursive personalisms, childish resentment and the lack of political stature exercised through contempt and the attempt to criminalize the election of voters and the decisions made by elected representatives, are totally removed from what Carmena expressed in her speech in defense of democracy and institutions.
Pancho Hernández's speech was, to say the least, shameful. He demonstrated the little political quality that exists in his person, the lack of democratic values and respect as a political opponent, and that the great and undoubted beneficiary of this change is the people of the municipality and not the new members of the council. A Mayor who says goodbye reproaching to the four winds how he financially found the City Council, the sacrifices made, the projects carried out or those that are out to tender, does not deserve to continue governing. He does not deserve it because the speech itself was full of falsehoods and because after 8 years he cannot continue with the same story.
For example, the hackneyed argument of the "inherited inheritance" is nothing more than a repetitive mantra and a half-truth (you can read here ), which he has used as a pretext to act as a small dictator to the point of being able to block on social networks anyone who disagrees with him. Is that a Mayor? It seems that for Pancho Hernández there were (or are) first-class citizens (those who applauded him) and second-class citizens (those who disagreed). For the latter, it was best to block or silence them, right Mr. ex-mayor? Because listening to your people is more exhausting and it is better to lock yourself in your own bubble of well-being. Furthermore, and as a simplistic explanation, for all those who propagate the same idea of the financial debacle of Tías, I am going to propose an idea: read. Read a lot and read about how the 2008 crisis affected the town halls. If in Spain the town halls depended mostly on the income derived from the urban boom, what happens when these incomes plummet while unemployment increases? Well, that less is entered and social spending is increased to help those who are unemployed. Tías was no exception. This is explained by Aldeguer Cerdá, in his 2014 work, Autonomía Loca, budgetary balance and financial sustainability: "The economic recession from 2008 onwards will manifest itself with a significant impact on local public accounts, not only due to the increase in expenses (?) of social protection, but due to the generalized fluctuation of the economy and the fall (?) in collection".
But, what am I going to say about someone who runs for two lists, one for mayor and another for parliamentarian, to later end up as a non-elected councilor in the most important institution on the island. I repeat, non-elected councilor. A man who dares to affirm in his farewell speech that Tías has invested in social spending when it is at the bottom nationally in spending per inhabitant. A man who does not take into consideration the signatures of 600 citizens annoyed with a work carried out in the purest Stalinist style. A man who should have renounced his councilor's certificate to give way to another member of the party and dedicate himself exclusively to his position in the Cabildo. A man who only sells fear and resentment, and who has demonstrated with his speech that he represents the old narcissistic politics lacking the stature to face defeat in democracy.
His speech, Mr. ex-mayor, is plagued by a lack of respect for the intelligence of some members of the municipality capable of analyzing the current situation beyond his fallacious electoral arguments that, as you will understand, are already tiring. Quoting a historical phrase, but with modifications, in his speech you cry like a child for what you have not been able to defend as a man. Or as a politician. For the next speech, have more political and democratic stature with the institutions and the citizens you represent. Do yourself that favor.
By Alejandro Pérez O'pray, Political Science and Administration from the UNED.
