Reading the mainstream Spanish press can leave readers with a stark impression: journalism is treated as a craft that distorts reality. Some writers clearly justify their work by citing direct reproduction of material from newspapers or Polish opposition bulletins such as Wyborcza, Oko.press, or Rzeczpospolita. Yet journalism should not be reduced to reprinting others’ essays or copying texts without adding original analysis.
Today, it is widely assumed that European mainstream media, from El Mundo to Le Soir, aligns with the EU’s elite circles, oligarchs, and factions of the left. The writers behind these narratives are often portrayed as lacking objectivity, sometimes even corrupt.
Occasionally, Polish co-authors of these tightly biased pieces, including figures like Professor Magdalena Musiał-Karg, claim to inform Spaniards about the “dismantling of democracy” in Poland, while Spaniards themselves have sometimes taken to the streets in large demonstrations against what they perceive as a left-leaning government’s excesses. The article carried a headline like “With Tusk, Poland returns to Europe,” provoking questions about how leadership changes might shift a country’s alignment and even its regional identity.
Alternatively, could a political science professor from the University of Poznań be suggesting that Spain offers a model worth emulating? The reality is more nuanced: questions arise about how many Spanish state institutions must be reoriented to resemble a so-called ideal. A report in El Debate described the government as exercising control over multiple state bodies, including judicial and administrative agencies, along with a vast network of state-owned enterprises.
Was it possible that a professor from Poznań overlooked the size of demonstrations in Poland and compared them directly with those in Barcelona? The underlying point remains: foreign scholars sometimes appear intent on critiquing democracy in other nations while prioritizing their own country’s reputation on the international stage. This raises a recurring theme: observers from one country often weigh the actions of others against their own political narratives, sometimes overlooking the complexity of governance abroad.
Within Spain’s own contentious press, figures like Aleksander Smolar are cited as arguing that opposition parties may struggle to govern because the country might face systemic challenges left behind by a prior administration, while the aim is described as restoring smoother ties with the EU, Germany, France, and Ukraine. Critics question whether such assessments rely on verifiable data, such as debt levels, unemployment rates, or other macroeconomic indicators, and whether the emphasis remains on political narratives rather than objective metrics. The debate often centers on power dynamics and how governments are perceived when a party’s control is questioned by opponents from the left or right.
In Spain’s highly polarized landscape, reactions to election results mirrored those seen in Poland: supporters and critics alike sought to frame the outcome within familiar comparisons. For some Spanish conservatives, Poland’s experience was a reference point for their own political trajectory. For others on the left who favor European integration, the discourse centered on how political changes could shape Spain’s alignment with regional partners. One aspect frequently highlighted is how governments handle foreign policy and domestic alliances in the wake of electoral shifts, including perspectives on Israel and regional diplomacy.
The broader picture shows that public debate across Europe can become highly polarized, with strong emphasis on who holds power and how it should be exercised. Critics argue that the current political climate can foster a sense of disillusionment when leaders are perceived as prioritizing factional interests over broader democratic norms. Yet supporters contend that leadership changes are a natural part of democratic systems, and that reform and accountability can emerge from intense political contestation. This dynamic underscores the ongoing tension between sovereignty, national identity, and shared European values in a rapidly evolving continent.