The intervention of the feminist Amelia Valcárcel, professor of Moral Philosophy and socialist, who thanked Alberto Núñez Feijóo on Tuesday for the role he played in the correction of the law of only if it is yes, raised considerable controversy yesterday due to the electoral context in which it has place The pacts between PP and Vox – an anti-feminist formation that denies gender violence – are at the center of the debate. And in the background of the controversy also beats the fight for the electoral support of classic feminism, which is as close to the PSOE as it is critical of the policies of the central government this legislature.
The PP played a card that has been working for some time, but which has lost credibility due to the pacts with Vox, and what they mean in terms of the regression to equality policies. So, the popular people made known the Feijóo in his foundation Reformismo 21 with Valcárcel, and a fragment of the intervention. A strong point that from socialist feminism is interpreted as an attempt to maintain oxygen, looking at the more moderate electorate when the pacts with the far right break its discourse.
Valcárcel is a referent of the feminist movement in Spain and referent of what today is called classic feminism, she was a councilor in Asturias with a socialist government and is president of the Feministas Socialistas (FeMeS) platform. The platform was created this legislature to defend the “feminist agenda” against what they consider to be a wrong course and contrary to the equality policies of the Government of Pedro Sánchez and the ministry of Irene Montero. For this reason, the approach of the PP already occurred when classic feminism failed – due to the refusal of the PSOE – to open a debate in Congress on the trans law.
After the PP released part of Valcárcel’s intervention on Tuesday, where she expresses confidence in Feijóo’s ability to carry out a feminist policy due to the intervention in the law of only yes is yes, the professor clarified the terms. “Dear Feijóo: I continue to thank you for your support for the rectification of the law of only yes. It’s the right way. Yesterday I explained the current feminist agenda. And I reminded you, with grace, that I am a socialist”, he explained on his Twitter account.
From the FeMeS platform, a statement was made public in which it is pointed out that the conquests of women’s rights during democracy “have come with the feminist movement, favored by the socialist party while it has governed, except for this last legislature in that we didn’t feel represented”. Despite the criticism, it stands out the full conviction that you cannot trust any policy that the PP can make, “which has chosen Vox as its sole partner”. The popular agenda, it is indicated, is and will be marked by pacts with the ultra-right. The platform asks that Valcárcel’s entire speech be made public, where he says he is a socialist.
Classic feminism defends a very clear agenda that this legislature, as they indicate, has been left without an answer by the Executive. Beyond the opposition to Equality’s gender identity policies, a deep wound has been caused, since the feminism close to the PSOE has not been heard or received by the government and party leadership. Vácarcel has been removed as a member of the Council of State.
Now, with the 23-J approaching, Sánchez is also turning the ship towards the postulates of this feminism that had normally sailed in tune with that of the PSOE leadership. Feminism has taken root in society, and women vote on 23-J.
