The problem is not Rutte (or Maduro)

15 september

About a year ago, we were deep in the pandemic. The second wave was in full swing, and the dutch prime minister was giving press conferences more frequently that ever seen in dutch history. I saw one or two and it seemed more of the same: a politician, not really knowing what’s going on, reassuring people with a plastic smile and empty phrases. But then again, perhaps that is one of the important roles of a leader: when everybody is scared, provide some sense of certainty. I did not buy it, but pretty much everybody around me started saying good things about Rutte. As spin doctors say it: a matrix of opinion was formed, and it was positive to the dutch PM.

Easy come, easy goes. After elections, conversations to form government have stalled. Looks like our PM has become toxic to his colegas, who do not seem to be able to form a coalition with him as PM and enough votes in parliament to run the country for the coming few years. Don’t even get me started about my own party, the Greens. Most of our active members foam at the mouth when faced with the possibility that we would enter a coalition. With Rutte? Never! they say. And don’t get me wrong, I don’t like him. He did run the administration responsible for the biggest racist affaire in the history of this country, after slavery. When it was known how the taxes office wrongly accused people of tax fraud, due to their ethnic background, the government of Rutte did fall, and new elections were called.

Problem is, Rutte won the elections again. And here goes the conundrum: any politician entering a coalition with him will be associated with the main responsible of a racist administration. But Rutte did win the elections. Perhaps Rutte is not the problem.

Let’s go back in time and across space, to Venezuela about 15 years ago. The archetype of a banana republic. A self anointed revolutionary government, with an amazing mix of corruption and incompetence, an extractive economy collapsing due to mismanagement, and unbelievable levels of inequality. But then again, with a gifted communicator as president. You can say whatever negative thing you think about Chavez, and I will agree and add a couple more. But he talked to the mayority of the venezuelans, and they heard him. He won election after election, and he talked and talked in the process. Obviously, the opposition hated him, as much as we hate his anointed successor, Maduro. And obviously, every other human that is not aligned with the regime foams at the mouth just by considering the possibility of opposition leaders negotiating some sort of going back to normal elections. But perhaps, Maduro is not the problem.

The thing is that many opposition parties, or movements, have forgotten that politics’ core issue is to convince your fellow citizens of the usefulness of your ideas and the effectively of your plans. Believe you me: I despise both Maduro and Rutte. But my feelings towards them are irrelevant… as long as I do not manage to mobilize the public support that will dislodge them from their power position. The way to get more votes is not endlessly talking about the shortcomings of my competitors.

Even if I am right.

So then, the corrupt and incompetent Maduro; the racist Rutte, and quite some others in other countries… are not the problem. Perhaps the problem is us, incapable to win elections against those demagogic masters. Forget about Rutte, or Maduro. Go out and talk. And hear. You might learn something.