Simple subtraction

WERE the Spanish really impressed by Pedro Sanchez’s ‘no means no’ strategy, the PSOE’s ratings would have shot up by more than a measly 1.1 per cent.

Apparently the PSOE is refusing to abstain when Rajoy faces his investiture ordeal because that’s what the majority of the party’s 190,000 paid-up members want. But 190,000 out of a potential 36,518,100 voters won’t win the PSOE a third election. On the contrary, they will help them to lose it.

The look of it

IF there were an election tomorrow, Mariano Rajoy and the Partido Popular would emerge as the most-voted, despite the 0.5 per cent shaved off their 33 per cent June 26 election results.  

The PSOE share crept from 22 per cent to 23.1 per cent, although in both cases the latest figures could be prompted more by image than substance. 

These are members of the public responding to the pollsters; fickle, easily-distracted members of public, not weary voters trudging to the polling station.  They do not base their voting intentions on ideology or the comportment of either candidate but are judging the PP and PSOE books by their covers. Pedro Sanchez is easier on the eye than Mariano Rajoy, that’s all.

Intelligent decision

THE Spanish Legion was founded by Jose Millan Astray, a military man credited with interrupting Miguel de Unamuno, then rector of Salamanca University, during speeches on Spain’s National Day, October 12, 1936.

 “Long live death!” Millan Astray shouted, “Death to intelligence.” Madrid City Hall has now decided that Calle Millan Astray will henceforth be known as Calle Inteligencia. It took 80 years but demonstrates that words outlive swords.

Rock and a hard place

CIUDADANOS leader Albert Rivera is the only one of Spain’s four principal party leaders who clearly cares more about voters than himself or his party. He is willing to negotiate a ‘yes’ vote if Rajoy agrees to six Cs’ conditions, mostly centring on corruption. What a price for Rajoy to pay! He either agrees and indirectly admits endemic PP corruption or refuses and directly confirms it.