Introduction
The phrase “time will put each one in their place” was uttered by Pablo Iglesias during a speech at the Spanish Parliament on October 27, 2016. Little did Iglesias and his followers know that this day marked the beginning of their end.
The Rise of Podemos
In the years following Iglesias’ statement, Podemos experienced a period of glory. Pablo Iglesias, Juan Carlos Monedero, Íñigo Errejón, and Pablo Echenique, among others, aspired to bring about profound change by challenging the bipartisan system. They were close to surpassing the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) led by Pedro Sánchez in the general elections held a year prior, garnering 355,982 votes less than the PSOE.
Sánchez, in response to their rise, stated: “I hope Mr. Iglesias will reflect on these results; he had the opportunity to vote for a progressive government led by the socialist party and to put an end to Mariano Rajoy’s government, which has caused so much harm to the middle and working classes through its cuts and policies.”
Iglesias and his team believed Podemos would become the main opposition party, breaking the tradition of bipartisanship and leaving the PSOE behind.
The Fall of Podemos
Three years later, Podemos lost 2.1 million votes and 12 of the 45 seats they had obtained in coalition in 2016. Sánchez, failing to secure a majority, called for new elections later that year. VOX surpassed Podemos in terms of votes and seats. Podemos, now desperate, offered Sánchez a place in their government.
In the 2023 elections, Yolanda Díaz’s Sumar party humiliated Podemos through a hostile takeover, leaving the party with only four seats. Today, Monedero and Errejón face denunciations for sexual harassment.
Iglesias, who once criticized the Grupo Prisa media conglomerate, now accepts invitations from journalists like Aimar Bretos on Cadena SER for tertulias such as El Ágora, alongside José Manuel Garcia-Margallo (PP) and Carmen Calvo (PSOE).
Iglesias’ Shift in Ideology
During a debate, Garcia-Margallo confronted Iglesias: “When you say that private information sources should be controlled and that the government should oversee them to prevent those oligarchies you refer to, that is not the freedom of the press I believe in. Honestly, you are not a liberal democrat; you belong to the illiberal left-wing democracy.”
Iglesias was left speechless.
Iglesias’ Current Endeavors
Now, Pablo Iglesias brings his views on information control to Mexico through Canal Red. His mission is to spread hatred by creating enemies, fostering conflicts, and pathologizing single-minded thinking.
Though Podemos failed under Iglesias’ leadership, he remains skilled at manipulating audiences.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Pablo Iglesias? Pablo Iglesias is a Spanish political scientist and the founder of Podemos, a left-wing political party in Spain.
- What is Podemos? Podemos is a Spanish political party founded in 2014 by Pablo Iglesias and others, aiming to challenge the traditional bipartisan system in Spain.
- Why did Podemos fail? Podemos lost significant support due to internal issues, scandals, and Iglesias’ shifting ideology. The party’s inability to maintain its initial momentum led to a decline in votes and seats.
- What is Iglesias’ current role? Pablo Iglesias now focuses on spreading his views through Canal Red in Mexico, employing tactics to foster hatred and division.
