“Can it be in Spain? attack on congress Like the Capitol in Washington or the Presidency in Brazil?” This question is not the product of idle curiosity from a reader or a travel plan. It comes from Brazilian journalist Cris Tardaguila, founder of the influential verification company La Lupa. Tardaguila runs a network of whistleblowers and verification technicians who monitor how misinformation travels. He once worked for Efe in Rio de Janeiro and now operates from Washington, affiliated with the International Center for Journalism, overseeing a project that tackles disinformation in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru from a distance. His team has trained thousands of politicians, technicians, and students to detect fake information and to identify the seedbeds that breed and feed it within social networks. Some of their funders are businessmen in Brazil tied to former President Jair Bolsonaro. The methods of political manipulation echo the tactics once seen in Donald Trump’s campaigns, now revisited by Bolsonaro’s camp; those who supported him are sometimes the first to question the appeal of what they voted for in earlier cycles, even as debates on Brexit have shown similar patterns.
Fortunately, Spain maintains a calmer social climate, even as polarization grows and political life becomes more frayed. The United States and Brazil both show signs of weakness and tension, but Spain retains a steadier public discourse, even though episodes of unrest can flare up occasionally. There is ongoing attention to how the retirement age debate is unfolding in the European Union, with Spain often viewed as a benchmark against the more contentious debates seen in France. In general terms, social tension and misinformation tend to originate less from everyday life and more from political actors and media framing.
“Neither in Washington nor Brasilia was such a diversion anticipated; yet it occurred, and there is no single organization or party backing it,” notes a Brazilian researcher. In elections that are closely watched, blocs become coalitions that obscure clear lines. The published polls suggest a bridge between the right and far-right on one side and the left and nationalist currents on the other. The real risk lies not in street demonstrations but in the disappointment people feel about a government they long for but cannot fully realize. A handful of deputies from these blocs may hold decisive influence, carrying a heavy responsibility for the country’s future.
Discussions with the La Lupa team emphasize a direct approach to verifying claims. The aim is to design formats that provide immediate verification, rather than getting bogged down in the familiar back-and-forth of denials and counter-denials. In the Advanced Political Communication Master’s Program, a lecture by Tardáguila is paired with a workshop that will train politicians, technicians, and consultants to deliver clearer, more enlightening speeches about election programs. The goal is to elevate the standard of political dialogue so that voters can discern substance from rhetoric.
Debate remains a citizen’s right, though it is not guaranteed in every country or under every political climate. When it happens, it should take place under conditions that make it understandable and effective. If the process fails to meet those conditions, it can reinforce a sense of disappointment and disengagement among the public. The overarching aim is to foster a culture of informed discussion where facts are tested and arguments are open to scrutiny, ensuring that political discourse serves the interests of the people rather than a narrow set of interests.