The responsibility to stop the far right
PalmFifty years have passed since Franco's death and, with it, the formal end of a dictatorship that still casts long shadows over our public life. Half a century later, Spanish democracy continues to test its limits and its strength, and the Balearic Islands offer, now more than ever, a disturbing example. The far right, which openly embraces aspects of Francoism and revives principles that should have been buried by history, has a strong presence in the Islands' institutions, and we must remember this as often as necessary: it presides over the Parliament, is part of the government of Mallorca, and influences regional and often municipal politics. All of this reflects a growing presence on the streets, especially among young people, a phenomenon that cannot be underestimated.
Given this scenario, it is essential to reiterate clearly the need for a cordon sanitaire. The left-wing parties had already proposed this to the People's Party (PP) at the beginning of the legislature as a tool to isolate Vox and prevent the normalization of a discourse that questions fundamental rights and freedoms. But what we have seen so far is a game of ambiguity on the part of the party led by Marga Prohens: a tactical rapprochement, occasional distancing, and then another rapprochement when it suits them to govern or pass budgets. This opportunistic dance sends the public the devastating message that one can make deals with the far right, negotiate, and even share a project when it's convenient.
This is a serious mistake. Because ideas are not only disseminated from institutional platforms, but also through the image that politics presents to society. When a party that idealizes dictatorship and promotes regression gains legitimacy through grand means, its positions become less inhibited, take root, and multiply.
The responsibility for halting this democratic backsliding does not, obviously, lie with Vox, which acts in complete consistency with what it preaches. In the Balearic Islands, the responsibility lies primarily with the People's Party (PP) and the regional government, which have the institutional and moral obligation to ensure that no reactionary agenda imposes setbacks in civil rights, language, historical memory, or equality. The fight against fascism admits no nuances or half-measures: it requires clarity, courage, and unwavering democratic conviction. Fifty years after the dictator's death, the lesson should remain relevant, because democracy is only defended by practicing it and turning our backs on those who idealize dictatorships. Therefore, the far right must be kept out of government actions, its influence must not be normalized, and everything possible must be done to prevent what once stole rights and freedoms from taking root again.
