The evening show “El hormiguero” on Antena 3 once again departed from its usual entertainment format to delve into the complexities of high-level politics. This time, the guest of Pablo Motos was one of the country’s most respected journalists, evening news anchor Vicente Vallés. He left his studio a bit earlier than usual to join the conversation with the host and his famous ant puppets, Trancas and Barrancas.
The main topic of discussion was the political climate in modern Europe. Vallés noted that more and more European governments are adopting so-called ‘Trumpist’ models of behavior. The essence of this approach, in his view, lies in a panicked fear of showing weakness. Any admission of error, whether it’s an official’s resignation or a change of course, is perceived as a defeat. That’s why those in power deny the obvious until the end and try not to show that something is wrong. The journalist emphasized that this trend is not tied to any single party and is typical across the entire political spectrum, as evidenced by recent scandals that have affected almost all major forces.
Inevitably, the conversation turned to domestic Spanish affairs. Pablo Motos directly asked his guest what future he saw for current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez if he were to lose the next general election. Vallés suggested that Sánchez’s departure as leader of the Socialists was unlikely to be initiated by his own party members. He explained that the prime minister had built such a rigid and centralized party structure that it would be virtually impossible to remove him through an internal decision. Therefore, his further political fate will depend solely on his personal willingness to continue the fight.
After discussing the situation in the Socialist Party, the conversation shifted to the opposition forces. Vallés vividly described being in the opposition as finding oneself in “a very cold place,” where it is extremely difficult to devise the right strategy for returning to power. He noted that the opposition leaders face a tough challenge: they must not only confront the government but also constantly reckon with the opinions of influential party members who lead autonomous communities and wield real power locally. This creates additional tension and complicates the development of a unified position.
Given the high ratings of Vallés’s news program, the host of “El hormiguero” took the opportunity to ask whether he knew if his broadcasts were watched at the Moncloa government residence. The journalist responded evasively, suggesting that they likely follow all news programs there. He used the moment to highlight the core mission of his profession. According to him, journalism was originally created to be critical of those in power and to provide public oversight. In a democratic society, this oversight applies to everyone, but primarily to those who hold the levers of power.
At the end of the conversation, Motos touched on the sensitive topic of labels, asking if they bothered his guest. The host mentioned the term “fachosfera,” which had been introduced by the prime minister himself to describe media critical of him, and jokingly included both himself and Vallés in this “club.” Vallés responded philosophically, noting that labeling has become inevitable these days. He said he does not know a single journalist who hasn’t been assigned one political position or another, so he simply considers himself another in the long line of those subjected to such attacks.
