reflection days

The current electoral law known as LOREG, organic law of 5/1985 of 18 June, 51.3. It is the law that determines the existence of that day of reflection when the article states that the election campaign ends at zero hour the previous day. In the Decree Law No. 20/1977 of 18 March, which regulates the electoral rules of the first democratic elections to be held after Franco’s death, the same rule was already set out in Article 38. In either case, this day was not described in any way, and it was the practice that convinced us that it was a “thinking day”.

In addition to this day off from the election campaign, the ban on the publication of election polls five days before is also highly criticized, and we must admit that both regulations can be changed, as their positive contribution is not clear. While in 1977 it was clear that everything was about to be tried, caution should be exercised, but today information practices have exceeded initial estimates and it is not necessary to maintain these prohibitions.

On the other hand, there are those who argue that each country has its own rules and traditions should be respected, so that those born in transition should be accepted as cultural heritage and left as they are. I belong to the second group.

Beyond technical discussions on electoral issues, my intention today is to invite reflection the day before the vote and other issues. I’ll try to be careful, as confirming that we don’t think so may be interpreted as an insult by some dubious readers, calling many voters inconsiderate or worse.

After showing his surprise at the election results on Sunday, May 28, I have a friend who made the following analysis: The government could not explain itself, there is a communication problem. I also put a but in accepting and sharing this statement: It is impossible for everyone to communicate well. And I think this is the key point: to whom are the messages directed? There is a significant number of voters who do not receive the messages from the government and do not want them to reach them. Those who want to repeal Sanchismo and applaud ex-president José María Aznar look me in the eye and say, believe me, Iraq has weapons of mass destruction if Pedro Sánchez’s party wins in the municipal and regional elections. elections killers will be released en masse, no message worth it. Or what he believed when he confirmed he would be a pucherazo to Isabel Díaz Ayuso from his party, where he was the only person imprisoned for election fraud in the 28-M election in Mojácar (Almeria), well, the same is not the message that serves there. Those who believe in these messages believe it because they want to believe it. And let’s not say anything about the statements that can be made to those who expect Santiago Abascal to become vice-president of the Spanish government.

If that voter does not have a message to make them think, they will have to look to another sector. Disappointed socialists? If the policies of the coalition government headed by Pedro Sánchez did not seem progressive to you, I am left with no possible answer. In abstentions to the left of the PSOE? I think there is only one message for them: they will persuade Núñez Feijoó to rule with their actions, so think about it and congratulate yourself if that’s what you want.

Not just one day, but of course there is a field of choice that we can invite to think from our own positions. Voters who can support the right in some elections and the left in others are the most focused parties in both cases. I invite you to think about the future, not for today, but for tomorrow and even beyond. What do they want for their children?

No to feminism, no to immigration, no to any rights, yes to pro-fascist policies, yes to confronting some of the Spaniards living in Catalonia, yes to environmental disasters like the Mar Menor, no to economic policies towards Calviño’s great success or Yolanda Díaz’s encouragement His labor reform is yielding very good results. In matters like this, the future is there, and it will be up to our choice. We must reflect on this: one vote, ours is decisive.