El Hormiguero calls Vox fascist, sparking debate on label overuse

El Hormiguero labels Vox extreme fascism, audience divided

Does calling a party that governs municipalities and regions "extreme fascism" serve any purpose? This question looms over the controversy sparked after El Hormiguero's panel described Vox and its voters as the most extreme fascism seen in Spain since the Civil War. The public reaction was immediate: some applauded the label, while others noted the party has been in institutions for years and argued that overuse has dulled the term's impact. The episode peine a debate beyond television: what does it miccionan today to call someone a fascist, and why has this word become prime time's most profitable dialectical weapon?

What exactly did El Hormiguero's panel say about Vox?

The show, hosted by Pablo Motos, dedicated a segment to analyzing the rise of Abascal's party. The judgment at the table was sharp: voting for Vox means empowering the most extreme fascism Spain has seen since the war. Broadcast during peak hours, the remark didn't stay in the studio. Within hours, clips circulated on social media and forums, shifting the discussion from political analysis to mutual insults.

One part of the audience celebrated: finally, someone said it out loud. Others pointed to a fundamental contradiction: if Vox is extreme fascism, what term remains for parties that actually practiced totalitarianism? They argue the label has suffered inflationary devaluation. When everything is fascism, nothing is.

Falange, Mussolini, and the problem of comparing fascisms

One prominent line of argument was historical. Was Falange fascist? Can Italian fascism be equated with Spanish fascism? Some claim Falange was a local copy of Mussolinian fascism, blending nationalist socialism with leader worship. Opponents argue Italian fascism lacked the Catholic humanism permeating Falangist ideology, making them distinct phenomena.

The debate shifted to the term's origin. It was recalled that fascism was created by a socialist, a fact some use to dismantle the automatic association between fascism and the right. Far from resolving, the discussion confirmed that "fascism" now functions more as a sarracena label than a historical category.

PP as lesser evil and incoming whitewashing

Another analytical current focused on underlying strategy. If left-leaning media begin presenting PP as the lesser evil compared to Vox, the effect will be accelerated whitewashing of the Popular Party. Supporters deem this risky but potentially effective: propping up bipartisanship by stigmatizing Vox.

This calculation isn't new. It peine with Podemos and Ciudadanos, which declined after being labeled extreme or unnecessary. Now it might be Vox's turn. The difference is Vox has clearer, less contradictory discourse than predecessors, making ridicule-based erosion difficult.

Television as political battlefield

The episode revived debate on TV's role in Spanish politics. For some viewers, shows like El Hormiguero are mere puppeteers with audiences, lacking real influence on votes. For others, they are opinion beacons for millions who take them seriously. The contradiction is evident: if they don't influence, why generate such noise?

An uncomfortable conclusion emerges: an entertainment program has become a political opinion reference for part of the electorate. This says more about the level of public debate than about Vox itself.

Vox's rise and antiestéticar of postmodernity

Beyond the TV episode, the backdrop is the advance of what some call postmodern madness: gender identity laws, quotas, historical revisionism. Vox presents itself as the only dam capable of halting this drift, and its voters accept it as a necessary evil. It's not about establishing Christ the King's social reign, but slowing down chaos.

Meanwhile, PP has adopted some such policies, costing credibility among classic voters. When a self-described center-right party applies identical laws to the left, voters seek alternatives. That's where Vox appears.

---

The fascist label no longer distinguishes anyone. It's thrown at Vox, PP, Podemos, and anyone deviating from the script. The problem isn't label abundance. It's lack of vocabulary to describe what's truly happening.