An emotive occasion was held the other day in the Spanish parliament, as several hundred former political prisoners under Franco attended a special session organised in their honour. The only thing that marred the occasion was the fact that it was presided over by Jose Bono, Zapatero’s poor choice as President of the Congreso de Diputados. The pompous Bono took offence at one of the participants displaying the flag of the Spanish Republic, and issued a stern condemnation of this, claiming that it was not legal.
In fact there is no law prohibiting the display of the republican flag, at least not since Spain returned to democracy. It may not be the national emblem of Spain these days but it was the flag of a legitimate government that was overthrown by Franco’s rebellion. That Bono should be so offended at those who suffered under Franco’s regime displaying a symbol of resistance is sad enough. As others have pointed out Bono has never been so quick to take offence at the display of less legitimate symbols left over from Franco’s time and which are easy enough to find in Toledo, for so many years Bono’s political stronghold during his time as president of Castilla La Mancha.
In fact there is no law prohibiting the display of the republican flag, at least not since Spain returned to democracy. It may not be the national emblem of Spain these days but it was the flag of a legitimate government that was overthrown by Franco’s rebellion. That Bono should be so offended at those who suffered under Franco’s regime displaying a symbol of resistance is sad enough. As others have pointed out Bono has never been so quick to take offence at the display of less legitimate symbols left over from Franco’s time and which are easy enough to find in Toledo, for so many years Bono’s political stronghold during his time as president of Castilla La Mancha.
4 comments:
Besides, as Llamazares pointed out, the corridors of the building housing the Spanish Parliament are hung full with portraits and other mementoes of distinguihed fascists...something Mr Bono has never found fault with, either.
I've always wondered what that guy was doing in the PSOE. Perhaps he's only biding his time until the right time comes to found a new party, along with the likes of Rosa Diez and Gallardón? I suppose this ties in with the outcome of the PP congress next weekend.
Bono came very close to being leader of the PSOE, Zapatero only beat him to it by a handful of votes and has always been careful about giving Bono something to keep him occupied. Whilst he's allowed to preen himslef - and get very well paid - presiding the Congreso I don't think he'll be looking for another party to join. After that he'll probably be a bit past it.
But surely Rosa Diez must have had some kind of plan B when she left the PSOE in order to set up her own party. It was perfectly clear even to her that UPD or however it's called wasn't going to do well at all at the polls.
I imagine she must have nurtured the idea of creating a platform able to cater for disgruntled nationalists from PSOE's more conservative wing - Bono, Ibarra and suchlike - along with the flotsam and jetsam that the outcome of the PP congress next weekend's bound to jettison overboard at some stage. Or am I jumping to conclusions here?
Maybe she did think this David, or maybe she just overestimated the appeal of a party effectively based around hostility to (regional) nationalism. Her position within the PSOE had become pretty untenable anyway. Unless the "national question" comes back to the forefront or some prominent figures split from the PP then it's hard to see UPD being attractive for any major PSOE figures.
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