THE DESOLATE street outside the Socialist Party (PSOE) HQ on Sunday night was testament to the massive popular resentment directed at alleged corruption, wanton public spending and naivety in the face of a deepening economic crisis.
With Spanish autonomous regions already governed by the in-coming conservative Popular Party (PP) and experiencing some of the harshest cuts in decades, many fear the PP will favour privatisation at the cost of public health and education.
“It’s going to be worse and worse,” said Carmen, a teacher to autistic children, who joined thousands opposing education cuts. “We have it already in Madrid with Esperanza Aguirre and now we will have it all over Spain.”
Carlos, a lawyer from Madrid, cast his vote for PP on the very basis of these cutbacks. “Cuts are necessary, especially in public spending,” he said.
“The socialists spent all the money necessary to keep the country running, now we are poor as rats!”
Hundreds of supporters waving the blue of the PP gathered outside their headquarters in Madrid on results night to celebrate an unsurprising general election victory.
The majority of Spain’s 36 million voters opted to “join the change” promised by PP leader Mariano Rajoy, motivated by the country’s failing economy and five million unemployed.
“I want to see the economic situation change,” said Guillermo (19), a first-time voter.
“A change is needed,” said Nieve Lopez, outside the voting centre with her one-year-old niece. “I voted PP, because the socialists have done nothing.”
What that change will entail once the PP takes over government in December and whether its promise to create jobs and “ensure education, health and welfare of all without exception” can be fulfilled, is now the question everyone is anxious to see answered.
“Rajoy has not said anything about his programme, so we don’t know what’s next,” said Marta, a supporter of the PSOE, which after eight years in government has suffered its worst defeat since Spain’s transition to democracy.
Paul Doris, president of the Spanish-Irish Business Network, believes Rajoy and his cabinet will swiftly limit public expenditure, establish tax incentives to create new jobs and impose tough austerity measures. “Spain will . . . face tough times during at least the new government’s first term,” said Doris.
The coinciding of the election, and the resurrection of a right-wing government, with the 36th anniversary of dictator Fransisco Franco’s death, was an apt reminder of the bipartisan nature of politics in Spain.
“It’s like football teams!” said players on the Madrid Harps GAA team, discussing the rivalry between the two main parties, with loyalties based on family tradition often deciding votes.
Javier (34) believes that majority governments in Spain have always resulted in corruption, and the new government will be no exception. Team-mate Jésus disagrees, claiming that in the current circumstances “an absolute majority is needed, to change completely”.
Hundreds disillusioned with the political system and the blame game between left and right gathered at Puerta del Sol last Saturday in solidarity with the 15-M protest movement, which encouraged people to annul their vote, or vote for minority parties, as a protest against the “PPSOE” monopoly.
The Unión Progreso y Democracia (UPyD), which seeks to reform the electoral law, won four times the number of votes. Irene Lozano, who won her seat in Madrid, claims “this is the beginning of the end of their alternating government”.