Spain's Election Result: A Victory for Democracy or Terrorism?

The devastating terrorist attacks on four trains in Madrid last week, killing 200 commuters and injuring 1,400, transformed the outcome of Spain's general election, which saw the Socialist party leader, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, emerge victorious with 164 seats to 148 for the ruling Popular party led by Mariano Rajoy. The result has sparked a heated debate over whether it represents a victory for democracy, a democratic response to the terrorist attacks, or a triumph for terrorism. On one hand, some argue that the result shows that the Spanish people were able to distinguish between the struggle against terrorism and the war in Iraq, which they strongly opposed. Others see the outcome as a direct consequence of the terrorist attacks, with the government lying about the perpetrators and the people reacting in a healthy way against dishonest government.

Key Takeaways:

• The Spanish general election result has been interpreted in two different ways, with some seeing it as a victory for democracy and others as a triumph for terrorism.
• The turnout in the election was sharply up at over 77%, with most of the new voters believed to be young and socialist.
• The election was widely seen as a response to the terrorist attacks, with the government's association with the US-led war in Iraq seen as a major factor in the vote.
• The outcome is likely to have significant implications for European politics and the US's relations with its allies.
• European diplomats are at odds over the interpretation of the election result, with some seeing it as a sign of European isolationism and others as a rejection of the notion that opposing the US in Iraq makes one vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
• The EU's slow pace of co-operation on fighting terrorism is highlighted by a report submitted four days before the Madrid bombings, which highlighted the lack of progress in implementing agreed measures to combat terrorism.
• The bombs in Madrid have brought home to many European countries how vulnerable they are to terrorism inspired by al-Qaeda, leading to a renewed focus on collecting and sharing intelligence.

Statistics:

• 200 commuters were killed and 1,400 injured in the Madrid train bombings.
• The Spanish Socialist party won 164 seats in the election, while the ruling Popular party won 148.
• The turnout in the election was 77.7%, sharply up from the 68.7% in the 2000 general election.
• 90% of Spanish citizens opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq (source: Spanish opinion polls).
• Many EU member states have not yet ratified the common arrest warrant that would prevent alleged criminals from fleeing from one EU member state to another.

Sources:

• The Times of London
• 20 Minutos
• European Union diplomatic sources
• EU report on combating terrorism
• Spanish opinion polls