An unusual debate broke out in the Andalusian parliament on the eve of Flag Day (Día de la Bandera). Vox party representative Manuel Gavira made an unexpected reference to the song “La murga de los currelantes” by Carlos Cano, written nearly half a century ago. He reminded his colleagues of the events of December 4, 1977, when thousands of Andalusians took to the streets to demand political autonomy and an end to economic stagnation.
Gavira quoted lyrics from the song, which call on authorities to provide jobs, free education, and accessible healthcare. According to him, despite the decades that have passed, the region still faces the same challenges as in 1977. He accused the current president of Andalusia, Juan Manuel Moreno, and the socialists of failing to address issues of unemployment, poverty, and corruption—instead, he said, these problems are only getting worse.
Political paradoxes
Gavira’s speech took other factions by surprise. Vox has traditionally opposed regional autonomies and does not participate in the celebrations of Andalusia Day. Now, however, the party is using leftist symbolism and cultural heritage to criticize those in power. Gavira emphasized that the 1977 slogans calling for work and justice are still relevant today. He added that, according to him, there is even less agriculture in the region now due to agreements reached with the socialists at the European level.
President Moreno responded to the opposition figure’s speech with irony, remarking that he hadn’t expected to hear Carlos Cano quotes and hints of Andalusian patriotism from Vox. In response, Gavira said that, as an Andalusian, he knows the region’s history well and is tired of stereotypes about the people of Andalusia.
Response from other parties
Lawmakers from other parties paid little attention to Vox’s rhetoric, viewing it simply as an attempt to attract attention. Representatives from PSOE and PP joked about the unexpected song choice, while Adelante Andalucía leader José Ignacio García expressed concern that the far right is attempting to appropriate symbols associated with the struggle for autonomy and social justice.
García noted that after authorities institutionalized December 4 as Flag Day, the holiday began to lose its original meaning. In his view, if all political forces start using the same date for different purposes, it ceases to be a symbol of change.
Historical context
In 2022, the mass demonstrations of December 4, 1977, were officially recognized as Flag Day of Andalusia. The initiative came from the founder of the Andalusian party PA, Alejandro Rojas-Marcos. This year, a ceremonial event dedicated to this date will again be held in Sevilla, at the government building on Plaza San Telmo.
Interestingly, the idea of changing the text of the Andalusian anthem to include gender-neutral forms was also discussed in parliament. Rojas-Marcos proposed replacing the phrase “hombres de luz que a los hombres alma de hombres les dimos” with a more inclusive version to reflect modern values.
In case you didn’t know, Carlos Cano is a famous Andalusian singer and composer whose songs have become symbols of the struggle for ordinary people’s rights and social justice in Spain. His music was often used as a manifesto to voice discontent with those in power and to support democratic change. The song “La murga de los currelantes” is still played at rallies and public events as a reminder of the region’s unresolved issues. Despite its ideology, Vox is not new to invoking cultural symbols to strengthen its political messages.
