Now that the new political year is beginning, I'd like to say something undeniable: it seems the left likes the PP and Vox to govern. As the poet and activist García Montero put it: the left-wing parties are "very interested" in the existence of Vox, a party they believe needs to be "protected." Because the more noise the fascists make, the more mobilized the left is. Yes, yes, you didn't misread me. When the right is in power, the progressives seem to light up like St. John's rockets: assemblies, demonstrations, banners, statements... A real festival of social energy.
But when the left, the "real" left, comes to power... oh, then the collective depression begins. Disappointment after disappointment. Coincidence? I don't think so. It's almost like clockwork: when these small parties come to power, the entire system—media, commentators, courts—conspire to make us believe that changing things is impossible. And on top of that, they taint it with a critical spirit.
Political scientists have been saying this for a long time. When a small, "radical" party enters government, it is perceived as a traitor: too soft for its own people and too extreme for everyone else. The result: voters flee. And, if that weren't enough, the media machine makes a killing. In the end, it turns out that the left must eat tofu, ride bicycles, and be consistent to the point of death, while everyone else can steal with both hands and run around the brothel without anyone being shocked. And who wins from this? Exactly: the same old people, those who have been in power all their lives.
As if that weren't enough, within the left itself, we have a penchant for seeking out messiahs and epic moments. Pablo Iglesias, Pedro Sánchez, Yolanda Díaz... We elevate them to the status of saviors, and then, inevitably, we sink with them. Meanwhile, the real problems—inequality, precariousness, social wounds—recede into the background while the news (from the progressive media!) talks about the Attorney General or Abascal's latest whim... Freaking out!
Some, deluded, think that everything will be resolved with a great modern uprising, like the 15-M movement or the Catalan Trial. On the left, we love to think that the world moves with the help of Revolutions, with a capital R. But reality is much less cinematic. History has shown that most changes don't come from a magic spark, but from long, arduous transitions, with endless debates, contradictions, doubts, and, yes, many political influences. And this is where we are now.
And that's why we on the left have to make him look, because this way we're not going anywhere. Maybe it's time to press the button reset ideological – or at least make one update– because these manias of ours are a dead end. Quiet, fireworks-free revolutions are neither glamorous nor do they give likes, but they are the only ones that really work. And we should be very clear about that. It cannot be that four newspapers with an air of New York Times, heavyweight tiktokers and Ibex-35-controlled televisions tell us where we should go.
So, perhaps the mistake lies with us when we expect progressive parties to enlighten us with institutional miracles. Because, aside from their errors (and they have many!), institutions are a minefield: if they don't destroy your voters, the right-wing media will, and if not, the judicial system will. You have to be in Parliament, of course, but social transformation, the kind that leaves a mark, often happens outside offices. It happens in feminist groups, in youth assemblies, at alternative parties, in the way a city decides to live itself. And yes, although it may seem small, these slow, trickle-down movements are the ones that end up changing history. I like to recall the words of Periko Solabarria: "We must tread more mud and less carpet, since mud leaves a mark." Please note. The reactionaries know this, and that's why they fear those who tread in mud. But the people who keep the pot boiling should know that, little by little, another future is being built.
PS: Regarding this topic, Palma's popular festivals are a clear example of two things: the shortsightedness of left-wing parties and the real power of neighborhood organizing. Collectives like the Obrería de San Sebastián and Orgullo Llonguet have managed to revive a city that seemed flat and predictable in 10 years. They've done so without a budget, without sponsors, and outside of institutions, demonstrating that the streets can transform reality.
The case of the Canamunt and Canavall festival, which took place a few days ago, is textbook: the City Council tries to hijack these grassroots movements, stifling them with bureaucracy and restrictions, while rewarding private companies with DJs and prefabricated concerts. When the grassroots are boiling over, those at the top counterprogram to steal the spotlight and turn it into an empty spectacle. While Jaime Bonet is nurturing mega-festivals, they are putting spokes in the wheels of those who are truly transforming the city. Let's remember that!
