The campaign begins in the general elections, with the same theme as in Barcelona when they launched the municipal elections: the tense debate on squatting. But this time duly carried against the keystone of the democratic system itself. It is no longer a question of defending private property, but of appropriating and making institutions that belong to everyone their own.
Last week, in the middle of the pre-campaign, some banners appeared inviting them to “clear & rdquor; to Pedro Sánchez de la Moncloa. The message was clear: the President of the Government is a “squatter & rdquor ;, because he does not deserve to be in Moncloa, which is – in the thoughts of those who accuse him -” my home & rdquor ;.
The corresponding appeals and claims have already been filed against the Central Electoral Board, but the resolution will focus on the impact on the electoral campaign and the right to freedom of expression. It would be necessary, in any case, to take the reflection beyond the impact on an electoral campaign. The speed at which we live means that we end up ignoring details that are crucial to maintaining the key to our democratic system. And it is that, as David Moss points out in his book ‘Democracy. A case study’, perhaps we have ended up so distracted by pointing out our disagreements and accusing each other, that we have forgotten that it is the system that unites us, that makes us strong and that, therefore, we cannot “take Democracy itself for granted& rdquor ;. It is up to all of us to prop up the keystone of our democratic system at all times.
And the legitimacy of running for public office cannot be disputed. You can debate, discuss and note the actions or abilities (or lack of actions or abilities) of a candidate or politician. But in no case can the opponent’s legitimacy to run for public office be disputed, simply based on the different ideology or different political program.
The principles of “one person, one vote” and “everyone should be able to be eligible” are keystones of the democratic system.
In public institutions where their president or their representatives are chosen by universal suffrage, there are no squatters. Institutions are and represent all of us. No one can believe in possession of the unique and true values of an institution, to the point that any third party is completely delegitimized to run it.
In John Carlin’s well-known book, ‘The Human Factor’ (which was brought to the screen in the famous movie ‘Invictus’), he describes the first day that Nelson Mandela arrived as the new prime minister at the presidential headquarters of the Government of South Africa. The scene is sublime: he invites them to overcome the image they have of him as a usurper of a position that makes them mistrust his ability, and he asks them for help to better understand the country and serve all the interests of the people with greater representation, to all the people, everyone.
In this polarized society we run the risk of diminishing examples such as those of the then recently elected President Mandela. And in Spain, history should serve as a warning to us, because too often there is that widespread conviction that certain institutions “are ours& rdquor;. Just thinking about it attacks and undermines the key to the vault of democracy.
It is convenient to fight for these basic principles that allow the proper functioning of our democracies. It is positive to stop at times and put aside the electoral race, to remind all of us that, in a democracy, the most important thing is that the system accommodates all of us, and no one of us can consider himself above anyone else. .
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As Michael J. Sandel says, in his book ‘The tyranny of merit. What has become of the common good? These are dangerous times for democracy and there will be no winners or losers if democratic politics is not revitalized and respected, promoting the discourse and the need to create and consolidate the ties that constitute and allow our lives in common, that is, the institutions.
In politics, in democracy, there are no squats.