Sílvia Orriols and the Mechanics of Fascism from Within

• Sílvia Orriols, mayor of Ripoll, initiated a social media campaign against a citizen who requested an investigation into her daughter's hiring as a local police officer.
• This targeting exemplifies a classic fascist strategy of identifying and purging 'internal traitors' to define and maintain national purity.
• The language and imagery used in the harassment align with accelerationist far-right rhetoric.

The Incident

• Roger Molinas (@arqueoleg), an archaeologist and social activist, filed a formal complaint with the Catalan Anti-Fraud Office regarding the urgent hiring of the mayor's daughter.
• Following the filing, Orriols publicly identified Molinas on social media, leading to a wave of organized harassment, including death threats, homophobic abuse, and doxing.
• The campaign suggests that the goal is not only to discredit the individual but to mobilize a base against those seen as 'traitors' to the national project.

Fascist Rhetoric and Strategy

• The slogan "First the traitors, then the invaders" used in attacks against Molinas traces back to The Turner Diaries, a foundational text for white supremacist terrorism.
• Orriols’ party, Aliança Catalana, masks its far-right agenda behind the Catalan independence movement, using the narrative of a 'threatened nation' to justify aggression against political opponents and migrants.
• Analysts argue that this is a textbook example of fascist grammar: creating an internal enemy to avoid complex societal issues and solidify power among the 'pure' populace.

Political Context

• Aliança Catalana has rapidly gained influence, with 2026 polls suggesting it could become the third-largest force in Catalonia with up to 25 seats.
• The party has increasingly aligned itself with radical European factions like Germany’s AfD, distancing itself from more moderate nationalist groups.
• The article concludes that failing to call out these tactics leads to the gradual erosion of democratic norms, referencing Martin Niemöller's warning about the consequences of silence in the face of targeted persecution.