Polarization, the division of political opinions taken to the most radical extreme, has become commonplace. It’s something they talk about on TV talk shows. and, in general, in all media. This is a situation … which, according to experts, was achieved due to the economic situation or also corruption scandals.
And this provokes political discussions but also heated fights even between members of the same family. A dinner, meal, or any family gathering can turn into a nightmare when the topic of politics comes up in the conversation.
Because politics, even without invitation, ends up appearing on the table during those times when family and friends gather for Christmas get-togethers and get-togethers. It’s something that causes uncomfortable situations but is not limited to the Christmas holidays. For this reason, this study also reflects that, for many, talking about politics It has become a minefield: one in four Spaniards have felt attacked or had strong arguments to express their ideas and 14% have broken off a family or friendly relationship in the last year for political reasons.
It is therefore not surprising to find other information from the same study: six out of ten people prefer to avoid the political subject so as not to discuss it. Self-censorship has become a common response to this climate.
But this study also compiled a list of politicians who cause the most polarization in society. In other words, they have this effect which divides the population. At the head of the leaders causing the greatest polarization are the leaders of Vox and the PSOE. They are Santiago Abascal and Pedro Sánchez those who occupy the first and second places on the list of politicians who generate so much division.
However, it is striking that the president of the Andalusian government is the Spanish politician who causes the least polarization. According to the “More in Common” study, Juanma Moreno is last on the list among those who generate the least rejection with the president of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García Page (PSOE).
The two politicians, Moreno Bonilla and García Page, are only considered the political leaders who contribute the most to this situation of tension by 1% of those questioned. It is a fact which contrasts with those which are more irritating than This is Santiago Abascal according to 39 percent of those surveyed and Pedro Sánchez, according to 35 percent.
The president of the community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, and the independentist Carles Puigdemont are also among the most irritating.
But in addition to the leaders of Vox and the PSOE in Spain, there are other politicians who contribute to maintaining polarization. Indeed, in third position is the president of the community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, according to 19 percent of respondents.
Fourth place on this list is occupied by the separatist Carles Puigdemont, according to 17 percent of people who carried out this survey. The Junts leader is followed on the list of irritating politicians by the president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who is considered such by 13 percent. The same classification includes Vice President Yolanda Díaz (11 percent), Podemos politician Irene Montero (10 percent), Gabriel Rufián (4 percent) and Salvador Illa (2 percent).
The consideration of Juanma Moreno as one of the Spanish politicians who contributes the least to polarization coincides with the defense he presents. For months, the Andalusian president of what he calls the “Andalusian way”, the formula of dialogue and the search for encounter in the face of the confrontation which rages in national politics.
In fact, it is the subject that served as the title of the book published by Juanma Moreno. ‘Manual of the Resistance. The Andalusian Way is the name of the first editorial immersion of the President of the Council in which he defends his model of commitment to understanding in politics.
Regarding the García page He is one of the regional barons with more political weight within the PSOE since Castilla-La Mancha is one of the rare autonomous communities governed by the socialists. In addition, the position of the Castilian politician from La Mancha is one of the few critical voices among socialists since he has repeatedly questioned the federal strategy or even the pacts with the independence parties.
Spain is one of the most polarized countries in Western Europe
And this panorama comes at a time when, according to the same survey Spain is one of the most polarized countries in Western Europewith a value of 0.628, higher than that of Germany, France or Italy. This means the scale is larger and there are fewer people in the center. While other countries concentrate the population in intermediate positions, in Spain this space is more restricted.
The distribution by parties draws two well-defined blocks: PSOE, Sumar and Podemos voters concentrate on the leftwhile those of the PP and, above all, those of Vox are grouped on the right. There is virtually no overlap between the two spaces. Unlike France or Germany, where the electorates are more mixed, in Spain the positions are organized much more clearly by blocks.
This same report accuses politicians themselves of being responsible for the situation of extreme tension, with the media and social networksand places the first months of 2024 as the highest peak of polarization, with the amnesty law in full debate.
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