Seat 50 was in Nevada and not Georgia. The Democrats will finally retain control of the US Senate after an agonizing vote. Voting by mail in Clark County (Las Vegas) gave victory to Hispanic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto.
I overturn, four days later, and two readings to extract: first the technique, the vote by mail, once again the protagonist in an election, it is about doing the basics better than everyone for everyone; second, the generational factor and the natural replacement as a backdrop, symbolized in his republican antagonist, Adam Laxalt.
Let's stop for a moment on this surname: Laxalt. Perhaps he will surprise you, because more than a Trumpist, he is a Basque. Descendant of shepherds from Iparralde, Adam's Basque nationalist connection is total. Linked to the group of Republicans who emigrated to the silver state with great business and political success, his grandfather Paul Laxalt was governor of Nevada and one of Ronald Reagan's most trusted men. He managed, mind you, that the former president received Lehendakari José Antonio Ardanza at the White House in 1988, the year of our iconic general strike. His uncle Robert was also one of the great promoters of Basque culture in the US.
Adam (44 years old), who followed in the footsteps of Catherine (58 years old) as state attorney general, will have a new opportunity in a couple of years. But the change in the face of the change that is still alive in Nevada, that of the millions of Mexicans who cross the wall in front of the pioneering Basque shepherds, is a good example that analysis by generations must be taken very seriously and not stereotype or make choices no cultural lessons at our fingertips.
In public affairs, a deep knowledge of the context is required, fleeing from positions without hitting the bone on this or that country or parties, forgetting obsolete categories such as bipartisanship or the recent bibloquism that try to explain today's vibrant society with yesterday's looks and concepts. and tomorrow. It is important not to forget it in a country like ours: diverse, plural, admirable that evolves so quickly to each challenge.
Last week we told you that we are going towards a "clear mandate" in the general elections. The winner of the regional and municipal elections in May 2023 will be in a position to project a victory with more than 140 seats just six months later. The victory will be on the left side if it mobilizes the generation of democracy, those under 45 or on the right side if they continue with their positive differential in the transition generation. But, beware, the premium of seats from 120 to more than 140 seats against the blockade will be decided by the generation of the sixties.
Born between 1955 and 1964 there are 5,776,258 voters. It was the decade in which, after the Civil War and the period of famine, the growth of the birth rate accelerated the most: they then exceeded the barrier of 600,000 until reaching almost 700,000 in 1964, which is the record of the historical series. From there they stabilize before beginning the decline from the mid-seventies. The generation with a clear mandate came of age in the last years of the Franco regime and in full transition, until the socialist victory of 1982. They are, therefore, the young people of the transition, who are now entering retirement or will in the next few years (they are between 58 and 67 years old today). Transversal, 39% are already pensioners and 43% are still working. They are concerned, significantly more than the average, about problems stemming from the economy and the political class. Keeping them in 2023 at the change of time is decisive for the left, turning them towards a change of cycle is the mission of the right.
“All for our country” is the motto of Nevada. "Everything for our country" synthesizes well the soul of our generational chain. The left should not be afraid to talk about Spain, it suits them well. But, “What (the devil) is Spain?”, as Iñaki Gabilondo asks in his last television question. Spain is hope and hate. We militate in hope. Like the grandparents of Laxalt and Cortez.
The change of era is determined by the unequivocal signs of the moment, such as the first motion of censure won, the first progressive coalition government in ninety years, the new social rights, the pardons of the prisoners of the procés, as well as the wisdom of repealing the crime of sedition; political cycles, by contrast, are defined by the usual crises in mandates, for example, the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine. If you confuse politics with economics or management, you play the cycles and the other usually wins.
"Clear mandate" is clarity on the main problems that personally concern the generation of 1960: the economic crisis (41.9%), the health system crisis (23%, three and a half points more than the average), the lack of employment (21%, almost six points more), the Government and political parties (11.3%), the pension system (9.4%, more than double the average), the rise in energy rates derived from the Ukraine crisis (8.5%), uncertainty and insecurity (8.5%), social problems (8.5%) and the educational system (7.9%).
