A year ago, a group of students from the Larraona Claret school in Pamplona developed an ethical code for the double electoral campaign that included ten commitments, both for politicians and citizens.
Among them, telling the truth, seeking meeting points and consensus with other political parties, renouncing corruption, destructive criticism, insults, disqualification and personal attacks or obtaining information with rigor and plurality.
Six of the eight candidates for mayor of Pamplona signed it (except Geroa Bai and Vox), as did Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Cuca Gamarra, Patxi López and Miguel Ángel Guterres.
At that time, the students conveyed their fear of not being taken seriously.
A year later, Lucía Núñez (Pamplona, 18 years old) confirms her fear: “Those who signed it are not complying with it.
We have collected videos in which code points are violated.
"In particular, renouncing insults and disqualification."
Not only have they failed to comply, but they have done so flagrantly, emphasizes the teacher in charge Eduardo Ortiz: "When we selected examples, we had to choose between serious and very serious."
There is another issue that especially hurts them, highlights Blanca Otazu (Pamplona, 18 years old).
“They have lied to our faces.
They took a photo, signed it, looked us in the eyes and told us: we believe in what you are doing.
And they have lacked time to fail to comply.
If they have lied to us with this, what won't they do with what they have behind them?
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They do not want this initiative to end here and they offer to mediate between the main political leaders so that they can smooth over differences, so that they can begin to work together.
“We are going to be attentive during the Easter holidays and, if we do not see an improvement, we will take another step,” Ortiz advances.
Since the code was published until today, the national and local political landscape has experienced moments of great tension.
For example, in December, Pamplona was the scene of the motion of censure against Mayor Cristina Ibarrola (UPN) promoted by EH Bildu and which was carried forward with the votes of the PSOE.
Then, some of those who had signed the code carried out scenes and debates with “continuous disrespect,” Otazu recalls.
Also at the national level they have perceived greater verbal aggressiveness.
A little over a year ago they visited the Congress headquarters.
“When we arrived we felt very small, he imposed a lot of respect on us.
We greatly value all the decisions that have been made there.
Therefore, seeing how they behave, that it seems that they are more at the bar than at their workplace, makes us sad.”
They encourage citizens to put the instructions of the code into practice to promote a change in the way of doing politics.
They are convinced that it is possible and are willing to demonstrate “in every possible way to tell them that this does not represent us.
If the mass moves, it has to reach the top,” says Núñez.
They trust that the message will reach and, above all, stick, says Otazu.
“I think that when this comes to them, inside, it will hurt them that the youth is with them like this.”
And Núñez adds: “If you hear that the country's young people are disappointed with the work you do and it doesn't hurt you, it is something to reflect on.”
Reflection and debate.
Two of the keys necessary to get out of this situation in which, Otazu denounces, a very partisan use of current affairs is being made.
“If, for example, the PSOE says one thing, the PP has to be on the opposite side.”
And vice versa.
For Núñez, “it reminds him a lot of football team fans” and he emphasizes that, little by little, it is catching on among young people because “talking about your ideology or your opinion on a topic is becoming a reason for confrontation.”
Ortiz asks to be careful how messages are transmitted because this verbal violence can later translate into physical violence.
“What are you waiting for?
"For the member of X party to kill someone from another party?"
All three insist on the importance of constructive and not destructive criticism.
A “must” that politicians have, but also the general public.
It gives the feeling, says Otazu, that “when a politician from a party you don't like appears on the news, people consider that they cannot agree with anything they say.”
“Politicians have politicized everything,” says Ortiz.
Which leads to another problem: “They hear what they want to hear.
Many people are received in Congress, but where do they listen to them from?
You can now be listening to me, but closed to the message, so it doesn't reach you.
Since you are from this party, you no longer have anything to say to me.
That is the trap and it is difficult to solve.”
Núñez defends that we do not deserve this behavior from political leaders, but warns, “we have to work to not deserve it.”
For this, citizen involvement is essential, combating the low interest that politics arouses.
“There are many young people who don't want to know anything about politics, they don't care, and we have to make the effort to stop and think.”
Among other things, Núñez adds, because “the more lack of interest and the less informed you are, the easier it is for those at the top to do whatever they want with you.”
It is a difficult question to solve in which the media plays a fundamental role.
And we are not spared from the slap on the wrist either.
“Sometimes they use that part that has the most pull so that we click on the news and the truly important things are left aside,” criticizes Otazu.
Once again, Núñez insists, citizen responsibility takes on special relevance.
“This is easily combatable.
Information plurality.
If you read several newspapers, you can get a more or less accurate idea of what they are trying to communicate.”
We give them the opportunity to think about what questions they would ask the main leaders at the national level.
In this case, to President Sánchez and the opposition leader, Núñez Feijóo.
The first question is asked by Otazu, “to Feijóo.
What is he willing to do to become president?
Where do you think the limit is?”
That same question is asked to Sánchez.
How far is he willing to go to stay in power? he asks himself.
“He is being kept in his position in exchange for the fact that there is great tension in Spain with many issues.
It could be raised if there is something that he is doing wrong.”
Ortiz appeals to his poor capacity for dialogue: “What is the name when two leaders are incapable of agreeing on something?”
And Núñez asks them: “Have you thought about what example you give to young people?
Does seeing girls and boys like us denouncing their work do anything to you?”
Not having signed the code does not prevent compliance with the “basic points”, they conclude and, therefore, they ask the main people responsible to force the members of their organization to respect it.
“They can't continue giving this image.”
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