Sporting a bruise that stretched the length of the left-hand side of his face, the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, said today that nobody should draw political conclusions from the fact that at an election rally he was punched by a man in the crowd.
What it is clear is that somebody does not like the 60 year-old premier, who, in Sunday’s general election, is likely to lose his parliamentary majority. The attack – which comprised an accomplished left hook and took place in the town of Pontevedra on Wednesday night – was delivered by a 17-year-old. He was initially identified as an activist for the rival Podemos party, although this was denied by local officials. Then in a twist last night, the La Voz De Galicia newspaper claimed the assailant was, in fact, a relative of Mr Rajoy: a cousin of his wife, Elvira Fernández Balboa.
Mr Rajoy tried to paint a picture of normality, saying, “I am holding on to the positive.” Quite what positive he can draw is not clear, but he did give an update of his injury to breakfast television. “My cheekbone is a bit swollen. The doctor gave me a cream and a painkiller,” he said.
Despite asking voters not to equate the attack with the election, they inevitably will. Mr Rajoy’s centre-right PP has governed Spain since 2011. Unemployment is stubbornly still above 20 per cent – higher among younger people – and many of those in work are stuck on temporary contracts.
Growth has returned, however, and Spain is among the fastest-growing economies in Europe. Mr Rajoy did not retaliate to the punch. If he wins a majority on Sunday, however, it will be he who is seen to come out fighting.
