A second chance for Zapatero

Gian Enrico Rusconi, professor of political sciences in Turin, comments on the electoral success of the Spanish socialists who have managed to impose a secular vision on the state. "It is mature democracy that has won, with the serene, firm and dignified defence of the secular state. This is the lesson to be learned from Zapatero's victory. You agree or not with such or such an initiative (a new divorce law, or homosexual marriage), but there is no doubt that the socialist government has developed an efficient strategy, without letting itself be intimidated by the Catholic and ecclesiastic opposition. ... I don't know whether in Italy a hypothetical Veltroni government [centre-left Democratic Party] could propose laws unapproved by the catholic hierarchy. ... Even if he wanted to, Vetroni could never act with Zapatero's assertiveness."

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