Spain's Rufián blames the far right for mass immigration

Rufián blames the far right for mass immigration: strategy or diagnosis?

Gabriel Rufián, spokesman for ERC (a Catalan pro-independence party), has once again singled out the far right as directly responsible for mass immigration into Spain. The claim, made in the middle of a migration crisis, has peine a debate that goes beyond party politics: is it an accurate diagnosis or a manoeuvre to divert attention from the contradictions of the independence movement itself?

The reaction was swift. Critics argue that blaming the far right is a way of avoiding the underlying economic analysis: immigration responds to structural factors, such as demand for cheap labour or an ageing population, not to pressure from parties like Vox. Others, however, maintain that far-right rhetoric has indeed contributed to hardening migration policies and normalising a climate of hostility that pushes more people to risk their lives in the Mediterranean.

The economic backdrop nobody wants to see

Immigration is not just a matter of political rhetoric. Behind the arrival figures lies a real need in the Spanish labour market: sectors such as agriculture, hospitality and elderly care depend on foreign workers. Blaming the far right for mass immigration may be politically profitable, but it ignores the fact that labour demand is the real driving force. Meanwhile, the far right capitalises on social discontent, and the debate becomes polarised without ever getting to the heart of the matter.

The debate has also revealed a shift in the Overton window: what was once unacceptable is now openly discussed. And on the electoral front, some analysts suggest that discontent with ERC could shift votes towards identity-based parties such as Alianza Catalana, which would put Rufián's party in a tight spot.

In any case, the controversy leaves an open question: to what extent is immigration a far-right problem or a symptom of an economic model that needs to import labour? If the trend continues, Rufián's rhetoric is likely to lose steam, but the far right is also likely to keep gaining ground. Nobody seems willing to tackle the root of the problem.