The left-wing fashion analyst who is at war with Vito Quiles

MadridIn recent months, one name has appeared frequently on television: Sarah Santaolalla (Salamanca, 1998). With a progressive outlook and a law degree, she often appears as a political analyst on various programs and has moderated important events—such as the Spanish government's commemoration of International Women's Day (March 8th) or the Conversation between Gabriel Rufián and Emilio Delgado—and has engaged in heated verbal clashes with the PP. Four months ago, in an interview with The CountryShe recalled that her childhood dream was to be president of the Spanish government and has explained several times that she doesn't rule out eventually entering politics, although not in the short term. For now, she's on the front lines, both on and off television: the far right leaked her phone number and has flooded her WhatsApp. She admits that she finds it difficult to be around people who don't understand her positions—"it's not sectarianism, it's solidarity," she says—although her "closest" friends are right-wing.

This week's clash with far-right agitator Vito Quiles has once again thrust her into the media spotlight. Leaving an event organized by the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) in the Senate, Quiles approached her and her group, and the ensuing tense scenes, involving pushing, shoving, and shouting, have ended up in court. Sarah Santaolalla went to the emergency room—she must wear a neck brace for three weeks—and filed a complaint against the far-right agitator. He has responded with a lawsuit for false accusation.

When she was younger, Santaolalla was involved in the Socialist Youth of Salamanca. During the November 10, 2019 election campaign, for example, she was putting up posters. She was also in charge of Young Neighbors of Salamanca, an association that was active during the pandemic. wove a "solidarity network" of volunteers for to help the most vulnerable people, doing their shopping or taking out their trash.

"You have to be a real idiot"

"You have to be a complete idiot or have very little information to continue believing the PP and Vox," she stated four months ago on TVE. These remarks prompted the Popular Party to demand her removal from public television. Recently, there have been two more episodes in this saga. "For simpletons, look at your photos showing your breasts with your neckline practically up to here," a PP deputy told her in the Madrid Assembly. And in The anthillRosa Belmonte she referred to her in this way: "Is it the one who's half dumb and half boobs?"