posted on March 14, 2004 08:25:13 PM new
MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's opposition Socialists have swept to power in a sensational election upset sparked by popular anger over the government's handling of a suspected al Qaeda attack on commuter trains that killed 200 people.
Voters ousted the center-right Popular Party (PP), which until Thursday's coordinated attacks had looked certain to win a third consecutive term in power in Sunday's poll.
Spain's next prime minister will be 43-year-old Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who has criticized outgoing premier Jose Maria Aznar for his unswerving support for the United States and has threatened to pull out 1,300 Spanish troops from Iraq.
With almost all votes counted, the Socialists had won 42.6 percent of the vote to the PP's 37.6 percent as voters turned out in large numbers to reaffirm their faith in democracy amid the upheaval over the bombings which also injured 1,500 people.
Hours before polling began on Sunday, the government revealed it had a videotape, purportedly from Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda, saying it carried out the coordinated attacks in retaliation for Spain's support for the United States.
Protesters shouted "Liar" and "Get our troops out of Iraq" at PP prime ministerial candidate Mariano Rajoy when he voted.
Zapatero's first thought after winning was to remember those killed in Thursday's attack and to pledge his immediate priority would be "fighting terrorism."
"Right now, I am thinking about all the lives broken by terror on Thursday," he said, asking a crowd of excited supporters to respect a minute's silence.
Zapatero said his "government of change" would be marked by dialogue and transparency. He is expected to be a much more conciliatory politician than the hard-line Aznar.
The Socialists' surprise win sparked wild rejoicing among their supporters after eight years out of power.
"It's like a dream...Now things are going to change, and change for the better in every sense," said Carlos del Puerto, a 24-year-old mechanic.
The Socialists looked set to win 164 seats in the lower house of parliament, 12 short of those needed for an absolute majority, meaning they will have to negotiate alliances with smaller regional parties in order to govern.
The Socialists gained 39 seats compared with the last election while the PP saw its seats drop to 148 from 183.
The PP will remain by far the largest single party in the upper house or Senate, potentially making it difficult for a Socialist government to pass legislation.
CONTROVERSY AFTER ATTACKS
Controversy over the government's handling of the bombing of four commuter trains three days before the election clearly helped swing the election Zapatero's way.
"The government has paid the price for its involvement in the war in Iraq, for Aznar's relationship with (U.S. President George) W. Bush and (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair. The vote has been a reaction to this," said Carlos Berzosa, rector of Madrid's Complutense University.
"The result wasn't due to the economy, or to the government's management in general...it was just due to the attack," Antonio Tena, a 26-year-old civil engineer, said on Sunday evening, lamenting the PP's loss.
Many Spaniards suspected that the government was not being open about the investigation of the attacks while initially directing blame toward the armed Basque separatist group ETA, which denied involvement.
Analysts had warned that the PP could be hit if voters believed al Qaeda had mounted its first attack in Europe in reprisal for Spain's support for the Iraq war.
Three Moroccans and two Indians were arrested in connection with the attack on Saturday.
Thousands took to the streets on Saturday night, surrounding PP headquarters in several cities and demanding to be "told the truth" about the bombings.
Voters, many wearing the black ribbon symbols of national grief since Thursday's attack, turned out in large numbers on Sunday. Turnout soared to 77.2 percent from 68.7 at the last general election in 2000.
Some Spaniards were vitriolic in accusing Aznar of "manipulating" public opinion over the bombings.
Aznar, retiring as prime minister and hailing a solid economy and greater clout for a country restored to the international mainstream three decades after Franco's dictatorship ended, had taken a tough line against ETA.
Germany called on Sunday for an urgent meeting of European Union security chiefs as possible al Qaeda involvement in the Madrid bombings triggered alarm bells across the world.
From Paris to Warsaw, governments across Europe tightened security at borders, railways and airports. (Additional reporting by Madrid bureau, Gilles Trequesser in Rabat and Peter Graff in London)
posted on March 14, 2004 08:54:09 PM new
What's this about terrorists? I thought there really were no terrorists.....that they were something President Bush was just making up to 'scare' all of us.
posted on March 14, 2004 09:04:28 PM new
You're confused Linda. The president lied about WOMDs not terrorists.
I guess you almost need a scorecard to keep track of what Bush has lied about and what are Bush half truths, and what he has said that is merely misleading.
In any event, Bush's lies about Iraq cost the leader of Spain his job, and now Spain will be pulling out of Iraq.
posted on March 14, 2004 09:06:22 PM new
My oldest is going to Spain when school gets out to meet her european relatives and practice her spanish riding techniques. It'll be interesting to hear what they have to say about the whole thing...
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posted on March 14, 2004 09:14:21 PM new
He didn't lie about either.
And some here have said exactly what I stated above.
But I was referring to this part of your article:
Germany called on Sunday for an urgent meeting of European Union security chiefs as possible al Qaeda involvement in the Madrid bombings triggered alarm bells across the world.
From Paris to Warsaw, governments across Europe tightened security at borders, railways and airports.
They need not spend all that money, like we have to protect our nation against terrorists....they can just borrow the profe's sticks.
posted on March 14, 2004 10:53:49 PM new
Prof - just tell your daughter not to carry the sticks in her carry-on luggage
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 15, 2004 05:39:33 AM new
no problem, I've heard foam rubber sticks work just as well as wooden ones...
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The bombing of Spain looks like a victory for the terrorists and a defeat for the United States -- further evidence of the failure of the foreign policy of George Bush.
Besides the tragic loss of life, over 200 billion dollars has been shot to hell looking for terrorists in all the wrong places while alienating nearly every country in the world.
posted on March 15, 2004 11:30:19 AM new
Yes desquirrel....don't go putting words in her mouth. [even thought you asked a QUESTION].
She's the one who wanted us to ADMIT DEFEAT and retreat
helenjw - posted on November 4, 2003 03:21:33 PM
Linda_K said: oh yes....that statement coming from a woman who wants our country to put it's tail between it's legs and RUN.....
helenjw - My suggestion was to admit defeat and leave as soon as possible and by as soon as possible, I pointed out that I did not mean to leave immediately in an irresponsible manner. That's what I really said, lindak....
Helen
posted on March 15, 2004 11:57:00 AM new
Wow. linda K
You finally found a good quote. The question is why didn't you bold the entire quote? Generally, when I read your c&p I pay special attention to the words not bolded.
I'll bold the entire statement for you.
My suggestion was to admit defeat and leave as soon as possible and by as soon as possible, I pointed out that I did not mean to leave immediately in an irresponsible manner. That's what I really said, lindak....
posted on March 15, 2004 12:30:17 PM new
The correct quote, ebayauctionguy.
My suggestion was to admit defeat and leave as soon as possible and by as soon as possible, I pointed out that I did not mean to leave immediately in an irresponsible manner. That's what I really said, lindak....
I'm not on the side of George Bush. He doesn't represent the America that I've known all my life...a Democracy, respected throughtout the world.
Helen
ed. to add correct quote.
[ edited by Helenjw on Mar 15, 2004 12:31 PM ]
posted on March 15, 2004 12:38:52 PM new
Yes, and it's clear to see you'd supported the socialists in Spain who have decided to withdraw their troops from Iraq in July.
But....thankfully we still have some people in this country with the backbone to stand up to terrorists.
posted on March 15, 2004 12:56:25 PM new
helen - The point is we were ALREADY in Iraq when you said we should admit defeat and get out. Just like Spain is doing. They already made the decision to be there and because of their fear of terrorists actions, they are now retreating.
Not going to rehash all the other stuff with you again. You know my position already and I know yours. So there's no point in going through it all again.
posted on March 15, 2004 01:03:07 PM new "helen - The point is we were ALREADY in Iraq when you said we should admit defeat and get out. Just like Spain is doing. They already made the decision to be there and because of their fear of terrorists actions, they are now retreating.
"Not going to rehash all the other stuff with you again. You know my position already and I know yours. So there's no point in going through it all again."
No, because you would lose the battle...once again.
posted on March 15, 2004 01:45:00 PM new"What's this about terrorists? I thought there really were no terrorists.....that they were something President Bush was just making up to 'scare' all of us."
The Democrats ran on 'Honesty' and I told 'em at the time they would never get anywhere. It was too radical for politics. The Republicans ran on 'Common Sense' and the returns showed that there were 8 million more people in the United States who had 'Common Sense' enough not to believe that there was 'Honesty' in politics." --Will Rogers
[ edited by Bear1949 on Mar 15, 2004 03:28 PM ]
It's not easy to find the complete translation of Zapatero's speech in English. Juan Cole has translated it here.
Sounds great! Cole argues that it was a defeat for the Bush administration.
"Tonight I commit myself to commence a tranquil government and I assure you that power is not going to change me," affirmed Zapatero between the applause of hundreds of people who congregated to celebrate the triumph. . "My most immediate priority is to fight all forms of terrorism (Mi prioridad mas inmediata es combatir toda forma de terrorismo). And my first initiative, tomorrow, will be to seek a union of political forces to join us together in fighting it. " After defining himself as "prepared to assume the responsibility to form the new government", Zapatero described his priorities. . "I will set out to strengthen the prestige of democratic institutions . . . to move Spain into the vanguard of European development and to guide myself by the Constitution at every moment" . . . "the government of change - he added - will act from the dialogue, the responsibility and the transparency. He will be a government that will work by cohesion, concord and peace."
After nearly four years of White House rhetoric stolen from old Clint Eastwood spaghetti Westerns, the determination in this speech to pursue anti-terrorism with an eye to establishing social peace and creating the conditions of human development hits me as a gale of fresh air.
So this is what al-Qaeda was going for with the train bombs? To create a "grand alliance" of democracies against it? Zapatero's speech is a victory for Bin Laden?
No, it is a defeat only for the Bush administration and the Neoconservative philosophy of Perpetual War. They hold that the US, the UK and Turkey are the only permanent allies and shifting coalitions "of the willing" are put together for particular wars, depending on who can be cajoled, bribed or bamboozled into joining up. This system of US-led shifting coalitions removes all restraint on US militarism. If you have permanent allies, like Germany and France, you might have to pay attention to them. If all you have is a shifting coalition, you can do what you please when you please. Multilateralists are like a set of married couples who are old friends; the Neocons' unilateral superpower is like Hugh Hefner, surrounded by a constantly changing bevy of hand-picked "girlfriends."
Unfortunately for this adolescent power fantasy, the real world does not reward naked power and action solely in self-interest. NATO and the United Nations have hung the US out to dry in Iraq, ensuring that its troops take the brunt of the ongoing insurgency. The Turks decided early on that they wanted nothing to do with this dangerous adventure in a place that they saw as a hotbed of religious and ethnic radicalism barely contained by the ramshackle Baath structures of repression. So that "permanent" ally turned out to be no such thing.
With the secession of Spain from the "coalition of the willing," the rug has been pulled out from under the Bush doctrine of preemption, the Bush commitment to US military action without a proper UNSC resolution, and the Bush conviction that you can fool all the people all the time. Since Bush administration militarism and desire to go about overthrowing most of the governments in the Middle East actually was highly destabilizing and created enormous numbers of potential recruits for al-Qaeda, the Spanish actions are a great victory for the counter-insurgency struggle against al-Qaeda.
posted on March 16, 2004 07:47:09 AM new
Thanks for the spanish link Helen, the translation is right on the money by the way.
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posted on March 16, 2004 08:05:31 AM new
Thanks for that info, Profe. I was interested in that translation and hoping that you might read it. Juan Cole is a highly respected writer.
