Fill TikTok before libraries

BarcelonaAny parent would have been horrified to hear Gabriel Rufián firmly state that he prefers "filling TikToks 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 fail to add that, on the other hand, he doesn't frequent the library much, a reality unfortunately verifiable in any municipality. Rufián knew who he was addressing —a predominantly young audience with many university students among the public— and where he primarily has his public impact.

"What use is it to me to have 1,000 retweets or a million views if we don't use it", he pointed out, remarking that he said it "with humility". He also compared himself to Leonardo Di Caprio's character in the film Don't Look Up, an astronomer who never tires of warning that a meteorite will destroy the earth even though practically no one listens 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 it. His goal is to make those who are now attracted to the far-right, which "is in vogue", aware of the dangers involved in 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, he now sees no other way out than the unity of the Spanish left. The "historic moment", he assures, makes it indispensable. 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 core concepts of current public debate separate them. If Rufián believes that the left must be self-critical and must start talking about "security" or "immigration" to combat the discourse of the far-right, Montero has exclaimed that they have never stopped talking.

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.