Gabriel Rufián: worn down inside ERC and under fire over his profile

Rufián, under fire in his own party and on social media

Is Gabriel Rufián damaged goods within Esquerra Republicana? Judging by the opinions circulating, the pro-independence MP is drawing criticism from several quarters. The political debate mixes attacks on his educational background — he is faulted for having no university degree — with accusations that he moderated his stance after arriving in Congress. One group of commentators argues that Rufián has lost the favour of ERC's leadership, especially Oriol Junqueras, which would force him to seek a place with the PSOE or minor parties. Others, however, defend him as an effective parliamentarian, all things considered.

The controversy is not limited to his alleged lack of qualifications: some observers accuse him of changing his discourse once he set foot in the Carrera de San Jerónimo, home of Spain's Congress. The labels of "poor man" or "country bumpkin" have been repeated, while another camp hails him as the best orator in the chamber. The range is wide and the positions irreconcilable.

What lies behind Rufián's political wear?

As often happens in pro-independence politics, internal wear on leaders is a constant. Those who remember the early Rufián — blunt and aggressive — compare him with the current one, who has had to negotiate with the central government. This ideological evolution, or what some call a "change of masks," has earned him enemies among the most radical and also among those who never warmed to his style.

All the same, the debate leaves one conclusion: Rufián's figure continues to polarise. Whether he is politically "dead" or not, only time will tell, but the storm is not subsiding.

Academic credentials as a weapon

One of the most repeated criticisms is his lack of formal education. In a country where a university degree has become almost a requirement for politics, Rufián is the exception. Some see it as a shortcoming; others, as a virtue. What nobody disputes is that he knew how to exploit the system's loopholes to get where he is. The sarcasm of certain comments — "I don't think he can count to five" — does not hide a reality: Spanish politics still measures its representatives with a yardstick that is not always that of legislative effectiveness.