[Opinion] Governing By Triumphalism

[Opinion] Governing By Triumphalism
How politically similar are Spain and Venezuela?
Alfredo Ascanio (askain)
Published 2010-02-18

Zapatero in Spain and Chavez in Venezuela both exhibit a syndrome of triumphalism, yet are surrounded by a different reality.

However, they continue to believe their own stories. The people around them always tell the leaders that they are doing very well -- keeping the two presidents have been captives in their own ideologies.

Currently, on Spanish TV the so-called "Debates on Freedom", are underway. They consist of Jose Maria Marco, a historian, Alexander Munoz, a Senator, and Abel Hernandez, a journalist, meeting to discuss the urgent need for an economic pact in Spain. The country already has 4 million people without jobs and their fiscal and monetary affairs are weak.

Despite all this, the Spanish government does not want to think about elections. Zapatero expected a better time, economically, so he could make some unpopular decisions.

However, Zapatero, just like Chavez, has no willingness to compromise. Chavez has never agreed with the opposition.

Zapatero dreams of a political model similar to the Mexican PRI (ruling forever). Chavez has said he wants to rule for 50 years as it has Fidel Castro in Cuba.

Zapatero is a politician who has been forced to make improvised decisions. Chavez is the champion of hasty decision making.

Zapatero justified his old socialism in a way reminiscent of the 1930s. Chavez recalls Soviet socialism, something so old that he is ashamed to admit it.

Zapatero has clashed with the Popular Party, which wants to raise political and structural change. Chavez, too, confronts a democratic opposition, which aims to stabilize politics.

Essentially, both Zapatero and Chavez are increasingly captive in their own ideologies, without realizing that, at any time political models may fail.

©2010 OhmyNews
Other articles by reporter Alfredo Ascanio