Another “Black legend” in Spain
If I have to say what two prominent figures of the last century, in Spain, are the most hated by the socialists, I would say, without being wrong, Francisco Franco and José María Aznar.
I would not say anything now about Francisco Franco, other that he defeated the socialists, comunists and other political forces twice on the last century. First on 1.934, and second on 1.939. That explains everything about the hate the socialists drop him. The other person is Don José María Aznar.
I assume there is a continuous attempt on the leftists to distort the reality about the eight years Mr. Aznar was governing Spain. And, like on the times of Philip II in Spain, they are spreading around another Black legend. The original Black legend was due to the protestants and the British, with the purpose of ridicule the Spanish king and, thus, the Spanish army, and also to enhance the morale of their people. And he did have effect, specially in the Spanish people, as a sign of loneliness in the fight (enlarged by the perfidy of some Catholic kingdoms such as France). The effect on the Spanish people was a clear dip in the Catholic values, and effect of loneliness in the world, and a regression to the inner morale.
The new black legend is now supported by the socialists, and with the help of the comunists, and is based, as the first Black legend, on a lie that, as I use to say, repeated thousand of times, tries to be true, but it is a lie. This new black legend is based on the idea that the Aznar era on Spain was an era of regression on the Spanish values, a continuous attack to the freedom, and also a clear and continuous violation of the world statu quo. This, combined with the new idea that the socialists managed well the Spanish economy and that they left the full pantry and the PP governments took profit of the situation, tries to hide the reality of the Aznar era on Spain.
But let me first fo to the beginning, and the arrival to Mr. Aznar to lead the Spanish government. The situation, regarding the economy, was so disastrous that the Maastricth requirements to join the Euro were not fulfilled. The Aznar government had to ask for a credit to pay the salaries of the public workers. On the political side, the socialists were known because the different corruptions affairs that appeared on that period; even the comunists, lead by Mr. Anguita, denounced the situation day after day. Affairs such as Mr. Roldán, the director of the Guardia Civil (Spanish federal police) impacted on the socialists fame, not to say the honor. Regarding the status of Spain on the world, Spain had a good status, but always linked to or aligned to countries such as France and Germany; the reputation of Spain was because of that, and no much initiatives were known to the Spanish government as its own.
Mr. Aznar, on the economic, was successful and met the Maastritch requirements, surprisingly, even for the European countries. How much corruption scandals are know on the Aznar era? And how much in comparison with the socialist government? On the global politics, Mr. Aznar played an independent role, situating Spain as a reference country on the European Union and also on other forums in the world. No doubt Mr. Aznar conceived and had a good relationthip with United States; his relationship with George Bush is blamed by the leftists in Spain, but the “Azores picture”, on which Mr. Aznar was with Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair, was the summit of recognition of Spain as an important player on the world.
The new black legend tries to put Mr. Aznar on the edge. The leftists hate Mr. Bush and the Americans (althought they use to buy and consume American products), and so they put Mr. Aznar on the same position. Mr. Aznar is blamed because of this relationship, but I like to see the Spanish president on the higher decission forums, and not waiting to be greet by the American president, asking for a nice picture. I like Mr. Aznar taking decissions and risks: the Spanish support to the Irak war was a good decission, nothing to repent. The leftists are saying about a violation of the legality. But… Legality? What legality? What legality can one have on the Security Council of the United Nations when the countries are defending their own interests? The decission of supporting the Irak war was, from my point of view, the clear consequence of the right politic direction.
Mr. Aznar and his governments managed well difficult issues such as the sink of the Prestige. The decission, althought what is said by the leftists, was taken according with the opinion of the experts. And, after the problem, the economic help was put on place quickly, and experts of Spanish universities are indicating that the sea environment is recovered. Such a dilligence has not been seen on socialists governments.
The new black legend is based on the leftist propaganda, spread by the socialists, that does not forgive Mr. Aznar that him defeated them on the elections, and by the comunists. Waving the flag of “social rights” (rights for small groups of people), and distorting the reality, the leftists want to destroy the reputation of the right, the conservative, as good managers. They are not right. But the problem is not that: the problem is that the Spanish people will believe. This is something that should be attacked from a historical perspective, and without delay. The survival of the conservatives is in danger.
Leave a Reply