The Evolution of Political Sadism in Spanish Far-Right Rhetoric

• The rise of the political party Vox is driven by a shift toward a culture of political sadism that frames suffering as a source of enjoyment rather than necessity.
• Extremist discourse has transitioned from mere anti-politics to a form of infra-politics rooted in violence, sexual panic, and fear-based identity preservation.
• There is an increasing convergence between mainstream conservative parties and far-right factions regarding the exercise of state power, differing only in the aesthetic of their approach.

From Penance to Purge

• Past conservative governance under the Popular Party (PP) relied on a Catholic-inspired narrative of austerity, characterizing suffering as a mandatory sacrifice or penance.
• The current far-right strategy, adopted by Vox, redefines this struggle as a 'purge,' where the goal is no longer just fiscal order but the performative observation of others' suffering.

The Normalization of Violence

• Evidence of unchecked state violence is mounting, including recent leaked audio featuring military personnel bragging about the brutal treatment of migrants trapped in Ceuta.
• Institutions, such as the Ministry of Defense, respond to such abuses with promises of investigations that are widely perceived as performative measures designed to allow incidents to be forgotten without consequence.
• The same pattern of impunity is observed in the violent suppression of protests, such as those related to public education, where official promises of urgent investigations rarely yield accountability.

Implications for Governance

• Despite stylistic differences, the policy goals of the PP and Vox remain aligned, focusing on pension cuts, wage suppression, and fiscal gifts for the wealthy at the expense of public services.
• The two sides are expected to form a governing coalition, united by a shared reliance on the violent exercise of power, regardless of whether they choose to 'wear gloves' while doing so.