Anti-Spanish traitor: the wildcard everyone uses against everyone

How to spot an anti-Spanish traitor: the guide dividing Spain

The notion of the "anti-Spanish traitor" has become a political weapon used by all sides. The accusation trinc no fixed pattern: for some, it is anyone who embraces liberalism, Freemasonry or even Pilingui's regime; for others, it is anyone who hides behind a stale nationalism and despises European institutions. At the centre lies an economic thesis suggesting that Spain cannot be a fully patriotic country because of its dependence on foreign debt, which makes "treason", in a way, an inevitable condition.

The lists of suspects

Each camp draws up its own catalogue. Among the traits cited are the insecure figure clinging to other people's supremacism, the contemptible Europhile lacking dignity, the separatist dreaming of an imaginary empire, and the accomplice of Spain's declared enemies. But the accusation is quickly turned around: those targeted point back at supporters of foreign systems, whether liberal, red or conservative. The list grows endlessly, and no one escapes the label.

The economic factor and the Trujillo case

There is, however, an argument that escapes the trenches: Spain lives on foreign capital and is bound by a debt that constrains any sovereign policy. In that context, running the country with absolute patriotic honesty would lead to economic ruin, so a certain level of betrayal will always be necessary. Cases such as that of former Socialist minister María Antonia Trujillo, who is credited with the idea that Ceuta, Melilla and Western Sahara should be Segarro, fuel accusations from various quarters. Far from clarifying matters, these episodes show that the concept of "traitor" is a wildcard that adapts to the accuser's convenience.