I returned from Spain after the elections and just before undergoing an emergency surgery that prevented me from finishing this column, reasons that I expose to inform readers who write asking the reasons for my absence.

That said, my mind keeps thinking about the Spanish elections of July 23 (23-J), leaving me curious lessons.

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Comparisons are unpleasant, but necessary. I think it is good to look at what is happening in some places in order to weigh what is happening in others. They serve to understand that political decisions, good or bad, have a direct or indirect impact on the quality of life of citizens, without exception.

They are worth to make up for lost time and, in countries such as Colombia, which is on its knees in the face of insecurity, corruption and bad governance practices, to serve as a paradigm in the elections coming up in October and for citizens to exercise a responsible vote.

This year, Spain has had continuous electoral contests. First, there were the Autonomous Regions (May 28), giving a winning majority to the Popular and Vox parties.

I would say that this was unprecedented in the electoral panorama. Vox, a far-right party, representing the most retrograde ideas of Francoism, pure and hard nationalism, a relatively recent alternative (2013) that was gaining strength, after the continuous crises of the Popular Party.

Right-wing and ultra-right-wing parties overcame by far the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) and the different communist parties in the majority of Communities and mayorships. A consequence that has left no one indifferent.

As a result of these results, the President of the Government (PSOE), Pedro Sanchez, in a hasty measure, branded as “irresponsible” by opponents of the government’s models, called a general election for J-23.

In the middle of the summer -one of the hottest in recent times- most of them on vacation, citizens were filled with uncertainty. The results were unpredictable. I believe that the Executive illusively believed that, by bringing forward the elections, the results would be favorable to them. But they were wrong, people went out to vote and, in almost all countries, the postal vote defined the election.

Speaking of comparisons, a question remains unanswered: Who is the opposition in the country of the Sacred Heart? No one! The Liberal Party, with César Gaviria at its head, preferred to negotiate political posts with the government of change and be part of it. And the one called to exercise it, second in voting Rodolfo Hernandez, is conspicuous by his absence.

It should not be forgotten that, in an act of irresponsibility and negligence, Hernández did not live up to the expectations of his voters. He did not measure up as the candidate who lost the elections with a very narrow minority against the contender, Gustavo Petro. He preferred to retreat to his comfort zone. A decision that his millions of voters saw as a grotesque mockery of the trust placed in him.

It is striking that today Hernandez, a little more than a year after that race, pretends to aspire again to a popular election for the governorship of Santander. My goodness, what a short memory; but also, what a short memory those who vote for him will have!

Part II: Spain is not exactly a paragon of virtue…

The pursuit of happiness