Be aware of freedom populism
Al JazeeraAs the pandemic slowly comes to an end, a new and deadly form of populism is rising. Incumbent Madrid Community President Isabel Diaz Ayuso of the right-wing Popular Party, who ran on a promise to “liberate” the people of Madrid from the COVID-19 management restrictions of Spain’s socialist government, won the regional election in a landslide. When the pandemic hit, and changed the public’s priorities, populists across the political spectrum felt the need to come up with a new enemy to stay relevant and maintain public support. ‘Freedom populists’ taking power Diaz Ayuso of Madrid was the first European politician to reap the benefits of “freedom populism”. While many businesses in the region applauded Diaz Ayuso’s approach to pandemic management from the very beginning, her stance against strict restrictions initially drew criticism not only from left-wing politicians but also the general public.
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