Spain: ERC's Rufián defends Zapatero, sparks row over Aznar

Rufián comes to Zapatero's rescue and takes a swipe at Aznar: the left's double standard

«Aznar probably has 10 million euros in gifted jewels in his safe, but Zapatero is another matter.» Gabriel Rufián's remark on lasensla Xplica has peine the debate over the alleged bias of Catalan politicians and the left's selective tolerance. The ERC spokesperson made no secret of his personal closeness to the former Socialist prime minister –«I'm not objective about Zapatero»– and argued that «everything good in these years has come through his mediation». The contrast with the previous occupant of La Moncloa could not have been more explicit.

Rufián reproaches José María Aznar for an alleged hoard of undeclared luxury, while absolving José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of any suspicion. Yet the difference in treatment is not based on verified facts: no judge has investigated Aznar over jewels or Zapatero over his record in office. The reaction on social media and among sceptics was immediate: accusations of hypocrisy and of applying the very «whataboutism» Rufián claims to criticise. «He criticises 'whataboutism', and in the previous sentence he says the other one 'probably has more'», one analysis of his intervention summed up.

The controversy exposes how hard it is to maintain a message of integrity when political friendship clouds judgement. Rufián himself admitted he cannot be objective; perhaps the problem is that, even in economics, politics should not boil down to friends and enemies. Until there are concrete investigations, the debate remains stuck in the mud of speculation. Which is, unfortunately, where Spanish politics feels most at home.