Editorials
Zapatero and the King
By h.b. - Nov 11, 2007 - 7:43 PM
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EDITORIAL COMMENT
There has been just one topic of debate across not just Spain this weekend, but across the entire Spanish-speaking world.
The action at the Ibero-American summit in Chile and the defence of José María Aznar by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, together with the interjection of King Juan Carlos telling Hugo Chávez of Venezuela to shut up.
There is history between Chávez and Aznar, with the Venezuelan leader remembering that Aznar supported the April 2002 coup d etat in Venezuela, and is now calling to join forces against what Chávez describes as ‘the socialism of the 21st century’, but despite that there is no excuse for Chávez to make such comments as he did in Chile on such an international platform.
It’s interesting to see how Chavéz now hides behind the fact that he has been democratically elected three times, noting that the King has not, but anyone who knows how ‘El Presidente’ controls the media in Venezuela will have little doubt about the fragility of Chavéz belief in real democracy.
Zapatero on the other hand may not be the most effective public speaker, but his intervention demanding respect for his ex political opponent, José María Aznar, was timely and well made.
King Juan Carlos has proved himself to be a master of timing too, and, should Kings ever be forced to face the ballot box there is no doubt that the Spanish monarch would be home and dry. There is some left-wing criticism that his behaviour in Chile was not appropriate for a Monarch, but if nothing else it was human, understandable, and certainly effective.
It is a pity however that the Partido Popular could not find the generosity to praise the position of Zapatero – preferring to praise the King and then blame Zapatero and his foreign policy of making ‘dangerous friends’ for the episode.
The PP claims that Zapatero wants to be friends with everybody, and that somehow the Spanish Prime Minister is responsible for Hugo Chávez comments.
Well, for sure Zapatero has made it clear that he is a man who prefers to ‘jaw jaw not war war’, and that has included talks and meetings both with Latin American leaders and ETA, but in both cases Zapatero has also clearly shown where the line cannot be crossed.
Spain can be proud of both their Prime Minister and their King this weekend.
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