Aznar's difference with Sánchez and the "intellectual backwardness of the left"

MadridWithout notes or reading glasses. In a friendly auditorium, far from the tense atmosphere. José María Aznar has taken the baton from Pedro Sánchez, who was the focus of attention in the Senate that morning, and this Thursday evening he was the main event on Madrid's news agenda. However, the presentation of his new book Order and freedom (La Esfera de los Libros, 2025) had nothing to do with the appearance of the Socialist leader before the Koldo/Ábalos commission. Right from the start, the journalist fromThe World And on COPE radio, Jorge Bustos, who introduced the former Spanish president and leader of the People's Party, made clear the difference between Aznar and Sánchez as writers.

Anyone who ventures to read Order and freedomBustos warned that he will find a "political thought essay" that is far removed from Resistance manual (Ediciones Peninsula, 2019), published by the current head of the Spanish government. An exercise in "reclaiming one's position after only a few years in power" versus a book, Aznar's, which "lacks any of that fortune cookie philosophy." During the presentation, the former Popular Party president asserted that the left suffers from "intellectual backwardness" and is currently being "intellectually, culturally, and politically trampled." Aznar has issued a comprehensive indictment not only of the left and Sánchez but has also proclaimed that, at the national level, only the PP is spared.

With Alberto Núñez Feijóo in the audience, the current president of FAES stated that "the only constitutional party left in Spain is the PP" and attacked Vox, criticizing its "want to destroy" the People's Party. This role as the "sole remaining constitutional pillar" implies that Feijóo has a "gigantic task" ahead of him. However, Aznar prescribed "prudence" and asked him "not to fuel the frustration of Spaniards" regarding their desire for political change. "If there are no grounds for a motion of no confidence, we will have to wait for elections," he noted. Nevertheless, Aznar urged people not to confuse realism with "inaction" and called on citizens, once again, not to remain passive. "They are here so that whoever can act, should act," he said, paraphrasing himself from when he encouraged mobilization against Sánchez two years ago during the amnesty negotiations. As usual, the current leader of the PP chose to remain neutral, dodging press questions both upon entering and leaving to avoid being asked about Carlos Mazón and the "reflection" he is undertaking after being booed at the funeral of the storm victims. At the same time, Sánchez doubled down on his criticized approach and boasted about having managed to turn his glasses around. vintage in the anecdote of the day.