Fill TikTok before libraries

BarcelonaAny parent must have been horrified to hear Gabriel Rufián firmly state that he prefers "filling TikTok rather than libraries". It is on social media where the ERC spokesperson believes the main battle against the far-right is being fought. And applying, he says, his principle of "realism", it is there where the left must act decisively. "My son watches TikTok", he insisted during the joint event he held with Irene Montero at the Pompeu Fabra University. He didn't need to add that, on the other hand, he doesn't frequent the library much, a reality lamentably verifiable in any municipality. Rufián knew who he was addressing – a predominantly young audience with many university students among the public – and where he mainly has his public impact.

"What's the point of me having 1,000 retweets or a million views if I don't use it", he said, and stressed that he was saying it "with humility". He also compared himself to Leonardo DiCaprio's character in the film Don't Look Up, an astronomer who never tires of warning that a meteorite will destroy the Earth despite practically no one paying attention to him: "I'm tired of being right". Now, in addition to "being right", Rufián wants the rest of the population to share it, and digital strategy is one of the ways to achieve this. His goal is to make people who are now attracted to the far-right, which "is in fashion", aware of the dangers of embracing it, especially for the working classes.

With the same vehemence with which a few years ago he defended applying the declaration of independence of Catalonia, now he sees no other way out than the unity of the Spanish left. The "historic moment", he assures, makes it essential. To maximize results, yes, but also to excite the electorate. Montero, representative of a Podemos in free fall, embraces the Rufián path, despite the fact that this Thursday it has become evident that they are separated by core concepts of the current public debate. If Rufián considers that the left must engage in self-criticism and must begin to talk about "security" or "immigration" to combat the discourse of the far-right, Montero has exclaimed that they have never stopped talking about it.

Rufián is a politician with a nose for things, who connects very well precisely with young audiences. But the electoral device he intends to promote should be presented in the next elections, when many of these TikTok addicts will not be old enough (or willing) to vote. If we are to look to the future, perhaps another revolutionary strategy would be more effective: trying to empty TikTok and fill libraries.