April 20: "Spain is one of the most nationalistic countries in Europe"

Countries with an identity problem are usually nationalistic. Nations that regard themselves as such but don’t have a state are nationalistic. But so are those states that have wanted to construct a nation to order, but weren’t quite successful because they already had several nations within.

France is a rather successful model. Spain has not had such success. This is why Spanish nationalism is so strong and, at the same time, invisible to its own bearers. Spain is so nationalistic that when a new political party crops up, it must first prove its loyalty to the Spanish nation, if it wants to harbour any hope of success in the whole of Spain. It has to gain its (Spanish) nationalist credentials.

Podemos has issued instructions to all of its organizations to distance themselves from the discourse of other nationalisms, while adopting the language of Spanish patriotism. Ciudadanos didn’t need to. Their Spanish nationalist credentials, their proof of loyalty to Spanish nationalism, even their status of undefeated victim --because they are pro-Spanish in partibus infidelium-- were originally awarded to them in Catalonia. Having obtained this required visa, they can now travel around Spain freely.