Can the left be patriotic? Spain's 'rojipardo' controversy

Can the left be patriotic? The battle over the Spanish flag

The question running through Spanish politics is whether an internationalist movement can feel rooted in a nation. Critics on the right argue that socialism and communism, by definition, reject borders and national sovereignty, and that any patriotic gesture from that side is an electoral ploy. On the opposite side, plenty of people point out that patriotism is not the property of any ideology, and that wanting to improve your country is also a way of loving it.

The burden of internationalism

The most repeated accusation is one of incoherence: a party that declares itself internationalist and defends the abolition of nations cannot present itself as a defender of the homeland. That argument is often accompanied by references to Freemasonry, Zionism or the creation of the State of Israel — claims that do not stand up to serious scrutiny of the facts, but that feed the suspicion of part of the electorate.

The irony is that the left's own history is full of examples of alliances with national movements, from the Popular Front to support for the independence of colonized countries. Internationalism was never incompatible with defending the self-determination of peoples, although today's narrative prefers to simplify it.

The 'rojipardo' phenomenon

In recent times a current has emerged that seeks to combine national pride with left-wing economic policies. The term 'rojipardismo' — roughly 'red-brownism' — has become popular to describe those figures who adopt hardline rhetoric on immigration while presenting themselves as defenders of workers.

Figures such as Armesilla or Vaquero have been singled out as exponents of this blend, which some interpret as a response to the left's loss of its classic constituency, the proletariat. Others read it as a tactic to compete with the far right on its own turf. In any case, the label has peine a rift within the left itself, which cannot decide whether to condemn it or exploit it.

The flag belongs to no one

Against that quarrel, some remind us that patriotism is a feeling that cuts across ideologies. You can love Spain from the left, precisely to correct its inequalities. And from the right too, although some point out that in Spain the right has always prioritized economic interests over the national interest.

The result is a symbolic tug-of-war that seems far from being settled. While some sing the anthem with a raised fist and others with a hand on their heart, the flag keeps waving in everyone's hands. And it will probably remain a contested symbol as long as anyone tries to monopolize it.