Almost exactly a year ago, Yolanda Díaz gave a newspaper interview that appeared under the pleasingly provocative headline: “No basta con gestionar, a este Gobierno le falta alma” – “Running things isn’t enough; this government lacks spirit.”
While alma could also be translated as soul, heart or enthusiasm, the thrust of her comments to El País was perfectly clear. Despite being a key figure in Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist-led minority administration – she serves as labour minister and second deputy prime minister – Díaz believes governing is about more than just delivery. For her, politicians are there to improve people’s lives, to defend and increase hard-won rights, and to leave their country in a better state than they found it. Still, as she told the paper, the odd “happy policy” never does any harm either.
