Rubalcaba's Formula

(This article has been published in the newspaper Ultima Hora, Palma de Mallorca, THE VOICE OF ALMER? A, Journal of Tarragona and a dozen other Spanish newspapers)

The initial enthusiasm of the leaders of the PSOE to Perez Rubalcaba's candidacy for president of the Government fades with each passing day. Even his old supporter of Felipe Gonzalez, declared just becoming "less sympathetic" to his own party.

None of this is surprising given the reformist former president thesis on budgeting, labor market, social security, ... many of which are implicit in the report on the future of the EU prepared by the international expert group which he chairs.

In other words, Rodriguez Zapatero and his centurion Rubalcaba transiting a utopian way outdated, while Gonzalez advocates a much less sectarian, but able to save the furniture of a Europe adrift.

Why, then, let's call it leftist candidate and former minister, and not another more realistic and more focused?: Probably because it is not meant to win, but to become a permanent nuisance Mariano Rajoy from the opposition.

According to this hypothesis, the evolution of the economy will worsen in the coming years and will be evident then that the PP does not have the best recipes Zapatero failed. It would, therefore, initially avoiding the absolute majority of Rajoy and, once achieved that goal, lashing from Congress. And no one better than Alfredo P. for it.

In this effort today burn their ships Socialist candidate, but would also end the credibility of the PP so that a future leader of the PSOE, as yet unknown, could be made within four with the reins of power.

That is the true formula Rubalcaba and that would be, too, his last contribution to the cause of his party.