The president of the General Board of the Principality of Asturias, the socialist Juan Cofiño, has expressed his concern about the current political situation, marked by the sustained advance of the far right in numerous European countries. In the face of this growth, Cofiño perceives a left that is withdrawn into identity debates and diverted towards "particularist policies" aimed primarily at responding to minority groups.
In Cofiño's view, in this context, the left does not have a clear majority narrative today nor a shared objective that connects with broad layers of the citizenry. "The perception is that equality and the materialist component (housing, employment, etc.) have been neglected to get entangled in cultural discourses, values, or the exaltation of minorities," the Asturian leader pointed out in an article published in the regional newspaper La Nueva España and reported by Europa Press.
The president of the Asturian parliament argues that it is necessary to review "very critically" the causes behind the rise of far-right formations. He places the origin of the phenomenon in "the discontent and disaffection of an increasingly relevant part of the population towards the democratic system, its institutions, and the parties that make it up."
In his article titled "Cavilations on the Expansion of the Far Right," Cofiño expressly dismisses that "sanitary cordon" strategies are an effective response to these political forces. He argues that such measures have proven ineffective, given that "they have all bypassed them," and also considers that their implementation is "incompatible with democratic foundations." He also warns that "well-managed victimization processes grant credit where it should not exist."
For Cofiño, the root of the discontent lies in the "anguish, anger, and discomfort that nest in fear" and that affects broad social groups, a climate that he links to globalization and the deregulation of markets. This framework would have led, as he explains, to "an unequal society, in which large social sectors consider themselves losers and abandoned by the system."
The person in charge of the Asturian Chamber argues that the left "must resolve a dilemma that has left it confused for decades," since its political project "was projected on the basis of a work model that no longer exists" and, instead of adapting to that transformation, "has taken refuge in identity issues."
In the final part of the text, Cofiño addresses a specific message to younger voters. He urges those who, "angry, overwhelmed, and in a rebellious manner," lean towards radical options to "immerse themselves in history and understand where we come from, with the purpose of preventing the future," inviting them to reflect on the consequences of their political decisions.