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https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/08/spain-pm-pedro-sanchez-denounces-elon-musk-at-franco-anniversary-event>
"Pedro Sánchez has hit out at Elon Musk and his allies for “openly attacking
our institutions, inciting hatred and openly calling for people to support the
heirs of nazism”, saying the politics of division, disinformation and hatred
risk ushering in a new age of authoritarianism.
Speaking in Madrid on Wednesday as Spain prepares to mark the 50th anniversary
in November of the death of General Franco and the country’s subsequent return
to democracy, the Spanish prime minister said hard-won, basic freedoms could
not, and should not, be taken for granted.
“When you’ve spent your life under its protective veil, it’s easy to forget the
enormous strengths of democracy and to let yourself be seduced by those who
promise people order, security and wealth in exchange for robbing us of the
most precious thing a person can have, which is the power to choose our own
destiny,” he said.
The socialist leader said it was clear that autocratic regimes and values of
the last century were on the rise again across the world – not least in the
shape of Musk and his ilk.
“The fascism that we thought we’d left behind is now the third biggest
political force in Europe,” said Sánchez. “And, as President Macron [of France]
said only a few days ago, the international reactionary movement – or the
international far-right movement that we’ve been warning about for years in
Spain – which is being led in this case by the richest man on the planet, is
openly attacking our institutions, inciting hatred and openly calling for
people to support the heirs of nazism in Germany in the forthcoming elections
that will be held in Europe’s most important economy.”
If history teaches us anything, he said, it is that “freedom is never won on a
permanent basis” and that democracy could be snuffed out again in parts of the
world.
Sánchez said the best way to defend and strengthen Spain’s democracy was to
build “a more prosperous, cohesive, free and tolerant society” and to fight
lies and fake news. “Lies and disinformation are the main weapons of the
enemies of democracy,” he said.
Sánchez is the latest European leader to speak out against Musk’s attempts to
influence the continent’s political direction.
Emmanuel Macron said on Monday: “Ten years ago, who would have imagined that
the owner of one of the world’s largest social networks would be supporting a
new international reactionary movement and intervening directly in elections,
including in Germany.”
The British prime minister, Keir Starmer, has also condemned Musk’s attacks on
the government, suggesting his “lies and misinformation” on grooming gangs were
amplifying the “poison” of the far right.
Sánchez, announcing a year-long programme of events to mark the beginning of
Spain’s return to democracy, said the idea was to celebrate the country’s
transformation over the past five decades, to honour all those who made it
possible and to teach young people about the importance of democracy."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
