From Patriotic Bulimia to Nationalist Obesity (2001–2012)

Abstract

On 8 June 2012 the eyes of world were on Spain. Following weeks of market turmoil, mass media all over the planet reported that the Spanish economy was on the brink of collapse. The financial storm was so bad that it threatened the existence of the European monetary union. European Union leaders raced to put measures in place and pressured Spanish officials to seek aid. The next day, the Spanish Minister of the Exchequer, Luis de Guindos, announced that Spain had asked euro-region governments for a bailout of €100 billion to rescue its crippled banking sector. Spain became the biggest euro economy to seek international aid.¹ Speaking for the first time since the rescue of the banks was agreed, at a press conference on 10 June, the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, tried to present the financial bailout as a victory for his country. To the astonishment of journalists, Rajoy also declared that he had to cut the conference short because he was travelling to Gdansk to watch Spain’s first game in the Poland and Ukraine Euro 2012. Questioned about the appropriateness of the football trip, at a time when Spain was going through one of the most precarious economic moments in its history, the PM was unapologetic. He said that the ‘situation had been resolved’ and that the national team ‘deserved’ his visit.² Rajoy only lamented that he could not be in Paris at the same time to watch Rafael Nadal win Roland Garros.³

‘The Spanish fury never existed’

(Ángel Cappa)