(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #246 - Spain: Podemos and contradictions (fr, it, pt)

(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #246 - Spain: Podemos
and contradictions (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]

In a country where the population has not finished paying the crisis every day a little 
more, political life is disturbed by two phenomena: a corruption skyrocketed and the 
emergence of a new force that seduces and interrogates, Podemos. ---- Mid-October, a 
"clean hands" operation is launched against corruption in Spain: dozens of mayors were 
arrested - above all the Partido Popular in power but also the Socialist Party (PSOE). 
They are charged with money laundering, document forgery, insider trading on construction 
markets and energy, influence peddling and networks of criminal organizations. In all, no 
less than 250 million euros have been misappropriated. A scandal that splashes a Spanish 
political class already deeply discredited among the population. Discredit, that could 
benefit a new force: the party of Pablo Iglesias, Podemos, who made a big splash on the 
Spanish political scene 25 May 2014 the European elections. 8% of the vote, while Podemos 
had sent five MP's to the European Parliament.

Party created there only a year, in January 2014, Podemos is leading the polls of intent 
to vote (27%) in view of the general elections of 2015, which concerned the institutional 
parties accustomed to sharing power since 1975.

Born social movements

If we consider that, despite its contradictions and programmatic weaknesses of some of its 
slogans and claims, the party left the field of the radical left, Podemos is in the state 
a special case in Europe. Far ahead in terms of political weight than other formations 
approaching, some aspects such as the Left Front in France or Siriza Greece. Another 
difference, and it is not the least, Podemos was born of social movements from the base of 
committees Indignant. It is not the result of discussions between devices as was the case 
between the PCF and PG.

Our focus will be to closely observe its evolution, because no doubt an electoral victory 
of the party could have significant consequences across the EU.

Podemos won. People who have never campaigned engage in it. Disappointed with the PP and 
PSOE join them. Number of activists of social and trade union movement, but also the 
extra-parliamentary left, including in the ranks of libertarians, are persuaded by the 
project.

The ruling caste is afraid

Podemos calls by its weight and its activist base. It offers, which can not fail to 
interest libertarian communists, original participatory and horizontal operation. To the 
point that its convention (called Citizens' Assembly) this fall, proposals were discussed 
and approved by no less than 112,070 voters registered in advance online. A practice of 
voting may nevertheless question. Podemos has a solid membership base, distributed in over 
1000 local circles, found in all provinces of the country, some circles abroad.

Another item to note: Podemos scares the "caste" as they are called Pablo Iglesias. No 
political program on TV is not about its existence. Not a day, in the press, an article is 
dedicated to him. Proof of that fear fueled by the governments of parties (PP and PSOE), 
the smear campaign against him. The Partido Popular do not hesitate to invent connections 
with ETA or to raise the specter of a Soviet republic, the North Korean model or the 
opening of gulags in case of election victory Podemos. The Socialists, through their new 
leader line, Pedro Sanchez, brandish the charge of "populism", putting on an equal footing 
the FN in France and Podemos.

If Podemos has positive and innovative aspects, we need to closely monitor its evolution 
in the medium and long term. Already at the end of the Congress, Pablo Iglesias, who saw 
his positions validated extensively (80% of votes) at the expense of critical sector (12% 
of the vote) in favor of a clear class struggle and anti-capitalist program, announced 
that it was to reach out to the electorate's center-left proposals by adopting Keynesian 
reassuring. Condition of victory, he advance.

On the very model of the internal operation, an evolution is also noteworthy. Based on 
direct democracy, power circles, one of the conference revolved around issues of internal 
operations and the question of its spokesmen. Wanting to preserve his voice and weight in 
the party, the critical sector - which are committed es activists Izquierda 
Anticapitalista (IA) Spanish equivalent of the NPA - was in favor of a more collective 
leadership with three spokespersons. But it is the proposal to Igl?sias a single 
spokesperson (ie him) was validated by balancing ransom possible withdrawal of the party 
if his proposal was rejected. This is probably a political error: Podemos its essentially 
democratic character until breaking with traditional practices of other parties. On this 
issue, Podemos already seems to have fallen into the trap of all-out customization.

A direct consequence of this, there is an obvious decline in recent months of fighting 
spirit and creativity of social movements. In any case the analysis that in fact many 
actors and actresses of direct action syndicalism (primarily the activists of the CGT or 
Solidaridad Obrera). Agustin Cucalon, Secretary for Social Action of the CGT-Arag?n, 
regrets this setback: "The social and labor movement are taken hostage by political 
imperatives Podemos.? Old debate of the autonomy of the social movement, the argument of 
"electoral market" on social anger in full swing. In fact, it diverts the social and trade 
union struggle, at the cost of unbridled involvement in Podemos number of active militants 
even union teams. The result: the last inter general strike starts to date (29 November 
2012), the movement of Mareas ("tides" - anti-austerity protests) is also in decline.

Mobilizations in difficulty

Only mass mobilization in recent months, from November 24 to 29, the "Marches of dignity." 
The slogans: "For the right to a job and a worthy housing, against insecurity, 
unemployment, corruption, repression and violence against women" . These steps have had 
some success: 1 million people in the streets of more than 40 cities and 200,000 in Madrid.

At the level of workers' struggles is that of employee-es Coca-Cola was the most 
publicized in recent months. Launched on April 1, the production site of Fuenlabrada 
experiencing a wave of layoffs, stopping production and camping outside the factory, the 
movement has since spread to all Coca-Cola Espa?a group. In all, 1,250 jobs will be 
eliminated in 5000 with the closure of four plants at 11. The workers, with reference to 
Mareas and color of the brand promise "red tide" in coming months.

Jeremiah Berthuin (AL Gard)

http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Espagne-Podemos-et-ses