Cleansing Scum From The Internet In Spain

EDITORIAL: Spaniards’ reactions to the murder of Isabel Carrasco yesterday provide a glimpse of deeper conflicts bubbling below the surface of Spanish political life after six years of economic crisis.

Leading Spanish politicians have today reacted furiously to the slaying of a member of the political establishment. “The Internet must be cleansed of undesirables”, said the Spanish Home Secretary, adding that: “Outside of democracy, there is only anarchy”. “Cowards” and “scum” must not be allowed to hide behind the Internet, said the leader of Union, Progress & Democracy, Rosa Díez.

The Home Secretary’s choice of phrase is itself less than desirable, given the history of the Spanish right with Fascism and dictatorship, and given the terrifying connotations of the political cleansing of opponents in recent European history.