A New Future for Spain: Call It Social Socialism

[BurtWorm]

LETTER FROM EUROPE

By ELAINE SCIOLINO

Published: March 31, 2004

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/31/international/europe/31LETT.html


So why the need for radical change?

Most immediately, Mr. Zapatero wants to purge the country of the residue of conservatism that marked José María Aznar's eight-year administration. Although 94 percent of Spaniards are Catholics, a recent survey indicated that only 12 percent of young people between the ages of 13 and 24 go to Mass every week, and most Spaniards favor the strict separation of church and state.

Some changes will be easier than others. Last year, Spain passed a highly unpopular law that would make religious instruction a required part of the curriculum in public schools. Under the Zapatero administration, the law will not go into effect.

As for gay marriage, some form of civil unions is already in force in most of Spain's 17 autonomous regions, but there is no countrywide protection under the law. Mr. Zapatero pledged in a television interview after the election to introduce legislation to put gay unions "on the same footing as marriage," even if he waffled a bit, adding, "Marriage is perhaps not the best word."

It helps that 68 percent of Spaniards favor gay marriage, according to a Gallup poll in 2003 (compared with 58 percent in France and 47 percent in Italy). But on the more delicate and contentious issue of adoptions by gay couples, Mr. Zapatero has promised only to find "broad consensus."