"They blame each other. All the time." It is one of the phrases I have heard most from the various citizens who in this legislature have met with politicians of all colors to propose legislative changes. No matter the issue: euthanasia, sexual abuse of minors, corruption, education ... Never before have we seen so many deputies and ministerial positions listening to citizen requests and never before have we seen such an inability to carry out initiatives with massive popular support .
It has been four years lost. The data of the legislative activity are eloquent: the approval of laws has fallen drastically, 37 compared to 169 approved in the first legislature of Rajoy or 141 of the last in Zapatero. It is the consequence of the electoral repetitions and of a more fragmented Congress. But are not four years enough to have agreed on some fundamental issues? I imagine that the level of frustration of many ladies and gentlemen will be high for having failed so obviously, but can you imagine that of anonymous citizens who have spent years fighting for just causes, leaving jobs, parking other duties?
Most parties often invoke "civil society" as a source of inspiration, as a shield of protection or attack against adversaries. But who is that civil society? Who best represents Spanish civil society? Spanish society is very diverse and heterogeneous, and we see it every day on the issues signed and shared by the 14 million Spaniards who use Change.org. Issues ranging from the regulation of euthanasia to the non-repeal of the permanent reviewable prison , the most signed petition in the history of the platform in Spain with more than 3 million support.
Well, civil society or, at least, the most active citizens have been demonstrating for years that when you have a deep motivation, everything is possible. And it is not a phrase made to head a self-help book. The mobilization of Juan Carlos Quer caused the debate on the repeal of the reviewable permanent prison to be parked and the last major legislative modification in Spain, the tightening of penalties for drunk drivers, has been led by an anonymous citizen, Anna González.
Precisely Juan Carlos Quer and Anna González have taught us some keys to succeed in the political arena, keys that can surely inspire other leaders. For example: it is necessary to be insistent, to master your message very well and to communicate it directly and with arguments. Of course, first you have to get attention and for that personal history is essential, it makes us empathize, communicate with emotion. But what we have learned most from them and from many other petition creators is the importance of the meeting in person. Making politics on Twitter or WhatsApp can help keep a topic on the agenda, but there is nothing more powerful than looking into the eyes of another person and piercing their heart, asking them to commit, but to do it for real.
The cases of Juan Carlos, Anna or Miguel Hurtado, who have been fighting for years for the non-prescription of crimes of sexual abuse of minors, are exceptional, but not unique. No one in the world mobilizes like the Spanish. It is something that is in our essence. Spain is the origin of the right of citizen petition. Unesco ratified Leon in 2013 as the cradle of European parliamentarism instead of Westminster (England). Today The Decree of León, from the year 1188, appears as the oldest documentary testimony of the parliamentary system, a model of citizen participation in which the solicitors collected the requests of the residents of the boroughs to send them to the Royal Curia (Court of King). More than 800 years later, citizens have sometimes had to go over modern prosecutors to change things.
We are the country in the world with the highest proportion of Change.org users with respect to the total number of internet users, 40% of Spanish Internet users are mobilized on the platform . Citizens have armed themselves with the ideas, courage and determination that we often miss in the political class. Let's not forget that they, the parties and their representatives, are the second problem for the Spaniards, according to the CIS of July 2019. The second, far ahead of economic issues, housing, nationalisms ... But it is easier blame others.
In communication, it is often said that when the conversation is focused on finding the culprit, the underlying problem is forgotten, attention to what is relevant is stopped. Marketing experts also say that when you turn to large numbers, citizens tend to disconnect: enormity paralyzes us. Is what the PSOE wanted to do with its 370 measures? It is not to downplay each and every one of the 370 measures, but surely, to start negotiating, Podemos and the rest of the parties would appreciate something more condensed, perhaps a decalogue, that always works. I can not imagine that a meeting can be productive in which to discuss 370 points . I think that some prioritization would also help negotiation since civil society understands its role in the puzzle, what will be the first ten measures if there is government?
By the way, among that overwhelming battery of proposals I miss the PSOE's commitment to the ratification of ILO Convention 189, an old claim of one of the most forgotten groups by all governments, domestic workers. They are also civil society. In addition, there are few proposals related to food waste, a key aspect in the prevention of climate change, according to a recent UN report. Manuel Bruscas and Cristina Romero have been mobilizing for years to put a stop to food waste in supermarkets and schools, have met with parliamentarians in Spain and Europe and have raised ideas that work in other countries, such as France.
In just two weeks we will know if there will be new elections. Whatever happens, if our politicians really want to connect with civil society they need to stop looking guilty. Democracy in Spain is adult, we hope our representatives will be too.
José Antonio Ritoré is Director of Change.org in Spain.
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