Rajoy does not retract and attacks the Spanish government: "They do not ask for forgiveness for anything"

BarcelonaMariano Rajoy not only downplayed his racist comment about the French team, backed by the PP, but now he is resisting apologizing. Amid the euphoria over Spain's progress to the World Cup final, the former Spanish president has published a new article in El Debate in which he discusses the controversy surrounding him. A chronicle with little footballing content and a lot of politics, in which he directly attacks the Spanish government: "They don't apologize for anything," he even says.

The former PP leader ignores protests from France – and from players of the Spanish team itself– for saying that the French team played "without Frenchmen" and, with a mocking tone, writes "thank you to the authorities for the attention they have paid me in this World Cup." The phrase serves as a prelude to accuse – without explicitly mentioning him – the executive of Pedro Sánchez of having used him to "create noise, distract attention, and stir things up."

"The shame is that so much effort dedicated to praising my virtues has distracted them from other matters [...] They are more interested in gossiping to a foreign minister or bowing to a prime minister [...] all so that what we are experiencing is not talked about," he adds. It is at this point that he states that "they don't apologize for anything." "That, it seems, is always up to others to do," he concludes, finishing with a "you know how I am" and a "Long live Spain!"

In the article, although he does not mention it, he also refers directly to Sánchez. "We fervently wish that Spain always achieves victory. Not that the best wins, as he prefers – so he states – him", says Rajoy, after the Spanish president reacted to his predecessor's words by saying "may the best win and racism lose".

The analysis of the semifinal by the former PP president, who points out that France "did not play badly and, despite that, lost" – "what can you do", he adds –, ends by thanking readers for "continuing" to read him after each match of the Roja. "We still have a few days left", he celebrates. And in another ironic comment, he also thanks all those who have approached him in the street in recent days: "You have to have a good sense of humor to greet me". The article, in fact, is titled: You have to have a good sense of humor.