Spain Notes, Dec 10: Israel-Gaza + Milei + human rights + global left-right
1/ The town of Guernica in the Basque Country, infamously destroyed by fascist and Nazi bombers during the Spanish Civil War, which Picasso then painted, organised a symbolic Palestinian flag protest with sirens souding in support of the people in Gaza.
2/ Sánchez, along with the leaders of Belgium, Ireland and Malta, has sent a letter to Charles Michel to organise “a clear and common” European position on the requests for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, a two-state solution, the recognition of the Palestinian state, the West Bank and Israeli settlers and the peace conference.
3/ Belarra (Podemos) writes: “Israel is a threat to democracy worldwide. It is massacring a people and undermining all the legality we built to ensure we never witness another World War II. The insults to Guterres are inexcusable”.
4/ Abascal (Vox) is in Argentina for Milei’s inauguration: “brothers united forever in the cultural and political battle for freedom and against leftist ruin”.
5/ Orban (Hungary), Bolsonaro (Brazil), Peña (Paraguay), are also there.
6/ The Israeli Foreign Secretary, Eli Cohen (Likud) is there too.
7/ Milei has also now met King Felipe.
8/ Abascal did an interview with Clarin in Buenos Aires: “I think the way Milei has got into the cultural and political battle against the left has been very important, because the left was dictating morality in politics, who was legitimate and who wasn’t. And the traditional rights couldn’t deal with that”.
9/ Deputy Prime Minsiter Yolanda Diaz said “Human rights must be protected in the whole world. Asking for a ceasefire in Gaza is the best way to celebrate 75 years since the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.
10/ The alt-right led protests seem to have pretty much died down now to a few dozen of the most enthusiastic supporter in different places. Yesterday there was a little protest in Vigo (Galicia) to the cry of “He’s not a Prime Minister, he’s a criminal!” Some of the signs read “revolt!” or “reconquest!”
11/ POLITICO: “BRUSSELS – Spain's Finance Minister Nadia Calviño will become the next head of the European Investment Bank after EU countries agreed on Friday morning to her appointment.”
12/ Actrees Itziar Castro died, aged 46. A polarised social media storm immediately ensued on Spanish Twitter over fat-shaming and obesity.
13/ The new Transport Minister, Oscar Puente (PSOE), the former Mayor of Valladolid, is blocking opposition politicians, journalists and media on Twitter.
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