This Tuesday, the Círculo Ecuestre hosted the presentation of the book "Spain Has a Solution", written by Iván Espinosa de los Monteros. The event was part of the Círculo's regular program, aimed at promoting the exchange of ideas and reflection on current issues.
The session was introduced by lawyer and journalist Ricardo Fernández Deu and moderated by Iñaki Ellakuria, El Mundo's representative in Catalonia, who described the book as one of those "books that fuel the debate of ideas." In his speech, Ellakuria emphasized that the book revolves around two major issues: the future of Spain and the role of the right both nationally and internationally.
During the conversation, Ellakuria posed a key question, referring to the title of the book itself: "Spain Has a Solution, but a Solution for What?" From there, Espinosa de los Monteros outlined some of the main problems that, in his opinion, the country faces:
“The economic growth data offered by the government is positive… according to its interpretation, but it doesn't correspond to reality. I'm worried about the future of Spain and its entirety. I'm worried that we'll end up living in a 'Mexicanized' Spain, where some live very well and the rest very poorly. Where the great success of the 20th century, which was the creation of the middle class, has collapsed. I'm worried that there is poverty, and I want everyone to have the opportunity to do well.”
He also warned about the fragility of employment: “Spain's problem is that job growth is sustained by the growth of public employment, especially in those jobs with lower added value.”
On the ideological and cultural level, he lamented that the left has won the battle for culture and emphasized the need to recover national pride: “I want us to be a normal country. We are one of the oldest nations in the world. We have two heroic achievements: the Reconquista and the Hispanic Heritage movement. It's a model that no other society or nation has been able to replicate, not even the English, French, or Italians. Spain is a country with many reasons to be proud. What I will never understand is how we have been able to accept the black mark that other countries cast on us.”
On the political level, the former leader of VOX acknowledged the lack of an exciting political project: “I miss a proactive, hopeful, optimistic, and exciting project. I don't see this platform with a medium-term project in any party.” As an example, he cited technological opportunities: “We have a very unique opportunity in the world of data centers. We could be world leaders in this field, and we are failing to take advantage of it.”
During the event, he also shared his intention to launch a civil society platform: “I want to create a vehicle that will take the form of an association. A method of attracting talent from people who don't want to be tied to a political party. Healthcare, defense, justice... The idea is to bring in sector experts who are producing feasible, yet disruptive, ideas (within the framework of the Constitution, he clarified).”
Specifically, regarding a possible constitutional reform, Espinosa de los Monteros was emphatic: “If there is a moment in history where we don't have to amend the Constitution, it is now. Constitutions can only be amended when there are sensible, prudent, and state-minded leaders. Under no circumstances would I support a reform of the Constitution today.”
Finally, the author advocated eliminating the barriers between the PP and VOX in order to reach real consensus that will halt the rise of the PSOE in Spain.