Venice from the world of whores and coke: the right doesn't like love

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez transformed a campaign rally in Fuenlabrada into a public declaration of affection for his wife, Begoña Gomez, sparking immediate and severe backlash from right-wing media figures who accused the couple of hypocrisy and criminality. During the Saturday event, Sanchez thanked Gomez for being his spouse and the mother of their children. He stated that opponents had attempted to break them apart but succeeded only in uniting them further. Closing with a kiss before party members, he declared his love for her. This display triggered a wave of criticism from conservative commentators who linked the gesture to alleged illegal activities involving drug trafficking and prostitution. The reaction began immediately after the rally. On Monday, Carlos Herrera of Cadena COPE mocked the scene, referring to high doses of glucose at that hour of the morning. He described the moment as sentimental nonsense and questioned whether there was a salivary exchange. He labeled the couple the Kirchners of Pozuelo, referencing the Argentine political family. Herrera argued that the Spanish government was desperate because its housing narrative had collapsed following the resignation of spokesperson Montse Minguez. He noted that the underlying debate still centered on two decrees that halted evictions for vulnerable people and stopped indiscriminate rent increases. Right-wing parties intend to repeal these measures if they gain control of Congress after the November 29 election. Herrera suggested the Socialist Party uses Gomez as a message to its own base. He compared Sanchez’s dancing to that of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, noting that both Maduro and Cristina Kirchner are currently facing legal consequences. Jose Antonio Zarzalejos set a similar tone earlier on Sunday in a column titled With Margarita and Begoña and Without Jose Luis. He presented Gomez’s appearance as an electoral asset despite her status as someone charged with two crimes and awaiting trial before a popular jury. He quoted a socialist describing the scene as kirchnerist. Zarzalejos concluded that everything within Sanchez’s Socialist Party smelled bad given the applause for the president’s wife. Federico Jimenez Losantos offered the harshest critique on esRadio. He dismissed the kiss as something done in the morning without brushing teeth. He stated that such a public act would lead him to divorce. He called Sanchez a firecracker, a sinister man, and a coward. He attributed the sentimentality to influences imported from Caracas. When the station played audio from the rally, Losantos became more extreme. He claimed the language used resembled that found in brothels. He accused Gomez of paying for propaganda featuring underage prostitutes in a magazine. He asked Sanchez if he met her in a sauna, a brothel, or through bribes. Losantos asserted that the president’s political career was paid for by Gomez’s father, Sabiniano, using money from white slavery and pimping. He addressed the couple directly, telling them they came from the world of whores and cocaine. He described them as two fraudsters and hustlers. He referred to their supporters as scum. His primary grievance was the public expression of love, which he rejected with a dismissive phrase regarding the concept. Other commentators analyzed the strategic implications. One analysis noted that politicians often lie during campaigns, but Sanchez chose honesty about his feelings. This move aims to please core socialist voters who need motivation to convince others to return to the party. It presents Sanchez as the resilient figure from 2023 who achieved a comeback. The strategy appeals particularly to voters over sixty who maintain long-term marriages or have lost spouses. Running for reelection while in power is difficult, especially when results have not matched expectations. Promising new actions is risky because critics ask why nothing was done previously. Presenting oneself as a victim of dark forces is more attractive. The list of adversaries includes Feijoo, Abascal, hedge funds, the business federation CEOE, and tech billionaires like Elon Musk. The People’s Party responded by using artificial intelligence to create videos showing Sanchez kissing former minister Jose Luis Abalos. These clips were designed for social media to fuel hatred. Critics argue this benefits Sanchez by providing evidence that he is a victim pursued by predators. For Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the People’s Party, emotional displays are less effective. He prefers sticking to prepared texts to avoid errors, such as confusing city names or misnaming candidates. The escalation of tension by the People’s Party has boosted the aspirations of the far-right Vox party, according to recent polls. In France, protests related to student demands for improvements led to violence. Reports indicated more than 2,400 arrests, one thousand injured police officers, and two thousand shops looted. The town hall in Limoges burned down. These events occurred alongside the Spanish political discourse. The Spanish right continues to focus on Gomez as a lever to defeat Sanchez without going through the ballot box. They have spent two years attempting this strategy unsuccessfully. The current campaign highlights the divide between personal loyalty and political accountability. Sanchez maintains that attacks have strengthened his bond with Gomez. Opponents view the alliance as tainted by criminal allegations. The upcoming election will determine whether voters accept this narrative or reject it based on policy differences regarding housing and economic regulation. The media landscape remains polarized, with left-leaning outlets framing the incident as genuine emotion and right-leaning outlets framing it as evidence of corruption. The outcome depends on how undecided voters interpret these conflicting narratives in the final days before voting begins.