Emma Marcegaglia is right: Spain is economically smaller than us, internationally less powerful, but it is more credible. We have 60 million inhabitants, they have 40, our economy is one and a half times theirs, we are in the G8, they have been invited to the G20, but our image is at its lowest. Blame the mafia, the Camorra, the 'Ndrangheta. But not only.
We do not have enough infrastructure, our legal framework lacks certainty. We are a country of conflict, closed in on itself where the interests of the individual prevail over those of the community. And then there is widespread tax evasion, we are incapable of reacting and growing, in addition to the fact that the sense of the state is lacking.
That sense of the state that prompted Zapatero to resign and bring forward the political elections by six months, unlike our government which remains in the saddle, despite the fact that the markets are demanding a thorough renewal of our country: at every level. But it is also that sense of the good of the country that led Spain to include a balanced budget in the Constitution in record time, thanks to the bipartisan agreement between the socialists and the opposition. And just yesterday it was announced the arrival of the assets.
It is no coincidence, moreover, that the gap between the German bund and Italian bonds has exceeded the record Spanish spread in recent weeks, which is navigating in better waters: a sign that Spain, despite all its problems, enjoys more trust among the creditors (today, announces the Iberian Central Bank, Spanish debt is at 65,2% of GDP, a clear increase compared to a year ago, but well below the average of Euroland countries, 85%).
After all, the overtaking of Spain on Italy does not lie so much in per capita GDP (this happened five years ago now), as in the reaction capacity of a country which, despite being brought to its knees by the crisis (unemployment exceeds 20 % of the active population), has kept a smile and looks to the future with serenity. Let's say that it is a country still pervaded by hope. From trust and the will to react.
A country that has never let its guard down, compact and proud of being able to do well in the world, thanks to the structural reforms launched in recent months, but also to the important resources that come from Latin America. A nation that looks forward, sure that the alternation of government (the right should go back to sitting at Moncloa) will bring new benefits.
