Rising star slammed by Spain's political elite
A freak, a Nazi, an extremist: Spanish politics' new-kid-on-the-block has touched a nerve with both left and right. Here are the most controversial comments made about Pablo Iglesias since his 'indignant' party surprised everyone by winning five seats at the European Elections.
Iglesias stands out for his age — he is just 35 — his appearance and his rhetoric, and, like the English with marmite, it seems Spaniards either love him or loathe him.
His European elections success came on the back of an anti-austerity message, and has been attributed to a widespread lack of faith in Spain's major parties among the country's voters after years of economic crisis and seemingly endless corruption scandals.
Among the country’s political elite, the sentiment is generally one more of distrust for a witty yet radical newcomer who mobilized no less than 1.2 million voters in just three months (the time his Podemos party – the name means 'We Can' – has been around for).
Spain’s ruling Popular Party has been the most outspoken about Pablo Iglesias, his call for change in traditional political and societal values clashing directly with their raison d’etre.
PP mayor for the southern city of Fuengirola Esperanza Oña compared Iglesias’ rise to power to that of Hitler’s in Germany prior to him becoming Chancellor
Hitler ganó las elecciones en Alemania aprovechando el descontento general y convirtiéndolo en ilusión a su favor.
— Esperanza Oña (@esperanzaona) May 26, 2014
"Hitler won the elections in Germany by taking advantage of the general discontent and turning it into hope in his favour," tweeted Oña.
Then there’s Carlos Floriano, PP campaign leader during the European Elections, who admitted his party was "worried (about) the rise of the far-left".
"These are the guys who stormed the Parliament (and) surrounded my home," Floriano told a press conference in reference to the so-called escraches, a protest method seen in 2013 where demonstrators harassed politicians outside their homes and offices.
Pedro Arriola, another PP politician, called Podemos voters "frikis", something akin to 'freaks' in English.
Right-wing newspaper La Gaceta even ran a piece under the headline "Pablo Iglesias buys his clothes at Alcampo", the low-cost French supermarket chain.
The story became a trending topic on Twitter, with users mocking how the daily was trying its best to undermine the ponytailed politician.
Dicen que sí dices 3 veces Podemos delante de un espejo a media noche sale Pablo Iglesias y te viste del Alcampo.
— Istel (@Istel_) May 29, 2014
"Rumour has it if you stand in front of a mirror and say "Podemos" (We can) three times at midnight, Pablo Iglesias will dress you in Alcampo clothing."
Former socialist Prime Minister Felipe González has been the most outspoken opposition PSOE figure to lash out against Podemos, his former party having been dealt such a blow by their new left-wing competitors that all their attention is focused on finding a new leader.
"It would be a catastrophe if Bolivarian alternatives influenced by regressive utopian view were to govern Spain," said González on Thursday.
With his comments, González joins the lists of political commentators and right-wing leaders fearing that Iglesias, member of a political research group funded by the Venezuelan government, would transform Spain into a European version of the South American country.
‘Demagogue’, ‘extremist’, ‘heir to Fidel Castro’ are other terms cropping up online and in the country’s media.
Who Pablo Iglesias is and what his party would really do for Spain if Podemos were to reach a position of power is only a matter speculation for the time being.
But if you want to find out more about the ponytailed political scientist and why his name is on everybody’s lips, read The Local’s profile of Pablo Iglesias here.
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Iglesias stands out for his age — he is just 35 — his appearance and his rhetoric, and, like the English with marmite, it seems Spaniards either love him or loathe him.
His European elections success came on the back of an anti-austerity message, and has been attributed to a widespread lack of faith in Spain's major parties among the country's voters after years of economic crisis and seemingly endless corruption scandals.
Among the country’s political elite, the sentiment is generally one more of distrust for a witty yet radical newcomer who mobilized no less than 1.2 million voters in just three months (the time his Podemos party – the name means 'We Can' – has been around for).
Spain’s ruling Popular Party has been the most outspoken about Pablo Iglesias, his call for change in traditional political and societal values clashing directly with their raison d’etre.
PP mayor for the southern city of Fuengirola Esperanza Oña compared Iglesias’ rise to power to that of Hitler’s in Germany prior to him becoming Chancellor
Hitler ganó las elecciones en Alemania aprovechando el descontento general y convirtiéndolo en ilusión a su favor.
— Esperanza Oña (@esperanzaona) May 26, 2014
"Hitler won the elections in Germany by taking advantage of the general discontent and turning it into hope in his favour," tweeted Oña.
Then there’s Carlos Floriano, PP campaign leader during the European Elections, who admitted his party was "worried (about) the rise of the far-left".
"These are the guys who stormed the Parliament (and) surrounded my home," Floriano told a press conference in reference to the so-called escraches, a protest method seen in 2013 where demonstrators harassed politicians outside their homes and offices.
Pedro Arriola, another PP politician, called Podemos voters "frikis", something akin to 'freaks' in English.
Right-wing newspaper La Gaceta even ran a piece under the headline "Pablo Iglesias buys his clothes at Alcampo", the low-cost French supermarket chain.
The story became a trending topic on Twitter, with users mocking how the daily was trying its best to undermine the ponytailed politician.
Dicen que sí dices 3 veces Podemos delante de un espejo a media noche sale Pablo Iglesias y te viste del Alcampo.
— Istel (@Istel_) May 29, 2014 "Rumour has it if you stand in front of a mirror and say "Podemos" (We can) three times at midnight, Pablo Iglesias will dress you in Alcampo clothing."
Former socialist Prime Minister Felipe González has been the most outspoken opposition PSOE figure to lash out against Podemos, his former party having been dealt such a blow by their new left-wing competitors that all their attention is focused on finding a new leader.
"It would be a catastrophe if Bolivarian alternatives influenced by regressive utopian view were to govern Spain," said González on Thursday.
With his comments, González joins the lists of political commentators and right-wing leaders fearing that Iglesias, member of a political research group funded by the Venezuelan government, would transform Spain into a European version of the South American country.
‘Demagogue’, ‘extremist’, ‘heir to Fidel Castro’ are other terms cropping up online and in the country’s media.
Who Pablo Iglesias is and what his party would really do for Spain if Podemos were to reach a position of power is only a matter speculation for the time being.
But if you want to find out more about the ponytailed political scientist and why his name is on everybody’s lips, read The Local’s profile of Pablo Iglesias here.
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