This is a translation into English of today's editorial in ABC, a Spanish newspaper. The Spanish original is below.
The following is a short context: Spain has had the highest number of Wuhan virus deaths in the world per million inhabitants.
The main reason was the government decision to ignore the epidemic until AFTER the March 8 feminist March, which was supposed to coincide with a new Feminist Law introduced by the Minister of Equality, Irene Montero. Montero happens to be Pablo Iglesias' common law wife, with whom she has three children. Her previous labor experience was as supermarket cashier, and member of Parlament, a job she got thanks to her relationship with Iglesias. Montero's inexperience and incompetence led to the law being scuttled by opposition by other government ministers, who openly explained it was unconstitutional and had numerous errors.
So by March 8 the government had allowed the uncontrolled entry of travelers from China and Italy, including several thousand football fans who came from the Milan region, where the virus was already spreading and killing hundreds of Italians. The government also failed to stockpile medicines, masks, gloves, etc, and eventually the epidemic was overwhelming hospitals. The government response was a national state of alarm, and orders for the population to stay home. This was continued for over two months, reduced the infections and deaths. It also destroyed the economy, and today Spain has the highest unemployment in Europe, over 20%.
Here's the latest infections per million graph. It's important to understand the number of tests per million in Spain gas been very low, especially in March through June.
In late June, they opened with little controls, and the result has been another spike in infections. The President, Sanchez, decided to take his August vacations as the infections and deaths climbed. Last weekend he returned from vacation, and yesterday gave a speech declaring the central government wasn't going to take action, that it was up to each Autonomous Region (similar to a US state) to ask for a State of Alarm and decide what to do. The argument made by legal scholars is that such a response is irrational and it's better to use a Public Health Emergency law passed in 1986. So as of right now everything is up in the air.
The translated text follows. The Spanish original is below:
" The accumulation of trifles with which Pedro Sánchez presented himself to public opinion after his vacation, and only after a general climate of unfavorable public opinion due to his indolence and lack of leadership in the face of the pandemic, shows to what extent the inactivity of the Government it is intoxicating everything. At the gates of the classic restart of the political course, the Government is paralyzed and blocked. It only emits its well-known propaganda and demagoguery signals, and its capacity to unload responsibilities on others, in this case the autonomies, is scandalous. Spain has a passive and disappeared government, and only the lie motivates it to continue governing.
Ministers as representative of "sanchismo" as Carmen Calvo or José Luis Ábalos are absent, and they only resurface from time to time to promote revenge political projects that are not a priority against the crisis that is devastating Spain. Margarita Robles emerges as the discordant minister, Irene Montero, as a star of the gossip magazines, and Alberto Garzón, unpublished in a Consumer portfolio that should never have ceased to be a mere general direction, only speaks to attack the constitutional system. The Minister of Justice, failed in any management, only competes with Fernando Grande-Marlaska, burned since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis for his sectarianism and inability to manage such a relevant department. In Universities, Manuel Castells does not seem to know yet that he is a minister and the rectors feel abandoned by him. "He is leaving us alone in the return to class", they affirm, and demand a protocol that updates the last one, communicated three months ago. Rutilating toll charges like Darias or González Laya are irrelevant for all intents and purposes. In Tourism, there is no minister in Europe as disoriented as Maroto, and in Finance or Economy, Montero and Calviño continue to manipulate the data to glimpse non-existent green shoots. In Science, Duque is a perfect stranger in an unsustainable situation, and in Labor, Díaz has made deception his day to day ... The evaluation of each portfolio is summarized in an absurdity that forces one to ask what the Prime Minister needs more for. of a score of ministers in full recession.
Sánchez knowingly lies, and despite this, society does not seem capable of reacting. The fear of a new tragic phase of the pandemic is becoming noticeable. Regarding the economic collapse, words are unnecessary and it is enough for each Spaniard to feel his pocket. But in this climate, Sánchez still smiles with the arrogance of those who continue to boast of leading a long legislature instead of assuming that Spain is dying under his command."
Original text:
"El cúmulo de naderías con las que Pedro Sánchez se presentó a la opinión pública después de sus vacaciones, y solo tras un clima general de opinión pública desfavorable por su indolencia y falta de liderazgo frente a la pandemia, demuestra hasta qué punto la inactividad del Gobierno está intoxicándolo todo. A las puertas del clásico reinicio del curso político, el Gobierno está paralizado y bloqueado. Solo emite sus conocidas señales de propaganda y demagogia, y resulta escandalosa su capacidad para descargar responsabilidades en otros, en este caso las autonomías. España tiene un Gobierno pasivo y desaparecido, y solo la mentira le motiva para seguir gobernando.
Ministros tan representativos del «sanchismo» como Carmen Calvo o José Luis Ábalos están ausentes, y solo resurgen de vez en vez para promover proyectos políticos revanchistas que no son una prioridad contra la crisis que está asolando a España. Margarita Robles emerge como la ministra discordante, Irene Montero, como estrella de las revistas del corazón, y Alberto Garzón, inédito en una cartera de Consumo que jamás debió de dejar de ser una mera dirección general, solo habla para arremeter contra el sistema constitucional. El ministro de Justicia, fallido en cualquier gestión, solo compite con Fernando Grande-Marlaska, quemado desde el inicio de la crisis del coronavirus por su sectarismo e incapacidad para gestionar un departamento tan relevante. En Universidades, Manuel Castells no parece saber aún que es ministro y los rectores se siente por él abandonados. «Nos está dejando solos en la vuelta a clase», afirman, y reclaman un protocolo que actualice el último, comunicado hace tres meses. Rutilantes cargos de cuota como Darias o González Laya son irrelevantes a todos los efectos. En Turismo, no hay en Europa una ministra tan desorientada como Maroto, y en Hacienda o Economía, Montero y Calviño siguen manipulando los datos para atisbar brotes verdes inexistentes. En Ciencia, Duque es un perfecto desconocido en situación insostenible, y en Trabajo, Díaz ha hecho del engaño su día a día... La evaluación de cada cartera se resume en un despropósito que obliga a preguntarse para qué necesita el presidente del Gobierno más de una veintena de ministros en plena recesión.
Sánchez miente a sabiendas, y pese a ello la sociedad no parece capaz de reaccionar. El miedo a una nueva fase trágica de la pandemia empieza a ser notable. Respecto al desplome económico, sobran las palabras y basta con que cada español se palpe el bolsillo. Pero en este clima, Sánchez aún sonríe con la prepotencia de quien sigue presumiendo de liderar una legislatura larga en lugar de asumir que España agoniza bajo su mando."