That’s just insane that the far right took a hit after polls showing them growing in popularity
It’s insane that a country which suffered so much under a fascist dictatorship would want to return fascists to power.
As soon as people who remember it start dying off, the fascist apologists start coming out.
It’s like how anti-vax can grow because nobody in the young generations met anyone with polio.
Also I think that nostalgia works in a way where we remember more good times than hardships; humans are good adapting to any bullshit situation to the point we can call it comfortable and finally we look kindly to the past because old people remember mostly being young and healthy above all (despite not making this link mentally).
That’s why everyone has this nostalgia for their youth, not because the 60s or 80s where a good time.
Imagine if Hitler had won. That’s what happened in Spain. Francisco Franco governed for 40 years, till he was too old and sick to keep doing so. He never faced any consequences and died of old age.
During all those years he indoctrinated the new generations and set a precedent, culturally. So even though more than a hundred thousand people suffered and died under his dictatorship, he still has a lot of supporters that are very vocal about it and his influence still permeates spanish society nowadays. You could look up “franquismo cultural” if you’re interested.
Making short-sighted decisions to obtain results quickly is just human nature.
Fascists, populists and demagogues exploit this flaw in human nature to rise up. They promise big things using big words to masses of people who are uneducated, jaded, or both.
Some people in Spain, like in many other countries right now (USA, Greece, Italy…) are turning to fascism because they feel squeezed dry and let down (unemployment, Covid economic hangover, inflation, etc.) by their current governments, so they run to the people sat in the opposite (or most extreme) end of the political spectrum hoping they can turn things around.
With such a simplistic, binary mindset, coupled with a younger generation of voters who have not experienced what it’s like to live in a fascist country, it’s no wonder fascism and belligerent nationalism are gaining traction in the West. I just hope we can turn things around before more European countries follow on Hungary’s steps.
It’s not primarily the younger voters going fash though. Otherwise I mostly agree with your comment.
Which is ironic, because the rights those people have, like unemployment, WILL go away if the far-right wins, and they’ll be worse off.
