Spain and Venezuela grapple with democratic crises

Opinion pieces highlight growing challenges to democratic governance in both Spain and Venezuela. In Spain, the author argues that Catalan separatist leaders such as Carles Puigdemont and Arnaldo Otegi promote tribalism and linguistic exclusion that undermine national unity, and criticises the central government's tolerance of such policies under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The essay warns that forced use of co‑official languages in public employment and education creates a two‑tier citizenship.

In Venezuela, the commentary focuses on the fragility of its democratic institutions, citing the dominance of figures like Henry Ramos Allup and the internal decay of Acción Democrática. The author describes the country's political landscape as “a society half‑made,” urging broader popular participation and institutional reform to revive democracy.