Politics · Spain · 2 hrs ago
Spain’s PP uses official accounts to target two commentators online
Spain’s People’s Party used official accounts to target two commentators after they criticized or questioned party figures online.
The Madrid branch posted a video of journalist and commentator Sarah Santaolalla dancing at a party, after she joked about a video of regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso at an October 12 parade.
Santaolalla said she had never posted the old video, which she believes was filmed nine or ten years ago, and is checking whether she was underage so she can consider filing a complaint.
She also said she received messages telling her she deserved to be raped.
The PP also attacked unionist Afra Blanco after she questioned party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s call for voters to make sacrifices.
Blanco said the party had crossed a line by targeting her personally.
Party officials described a planned campaign effort involving volunteers, elected officials and influencers to spread content and respond online, with general elections less than 50 days away.
Spain’s People’s Party used its official social media accounts to respond to two commentators by posting personal attacks and, in one case, a video of the commentator at a party.
The PP account in the Madrid region posted a video of Sarah Santaolalla after she commented on footage of regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso at the 12 October parade.
Santaolalla said she did not know where the video came from and was checking whether she had been a minor when it was filmed.
The PP also replied to Afra Blanco after she shared a clip of party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo calling for “sacrifice” from PP voters.
Both commentators criticised the party’s approach, which El País described as a shift towards using official accounts to target commentators’ private lives.
- Who
- Spain’s People’s Party and commentators Sarah Santaolalla and Afra Blanco.
- What
- The PP used official social media accounts to post replies targeting the two commentators.
- When
- On the Tuesday described in the article, fewer than 50 days before the general election.
- Where
- On social media in Spain.
- Why
- Party sources cited campaign planning and a broader effort to involve volunteers, public officials, influencers and party officials in sharing and responding to content.
Spain’s People’s Party
Sarah Santaolalla and Afra Blanco
Use of official accounts
Spain’s People’s Party
The PP replied to Santaolalla with a video and told Blanco that, as a left-wing trade unionist, she did not make sacrifices.
Sarah Santaolalla and Afra Blanco
Santaolalla said the video was not on her social media and she did not know where it came from; Blanco said the PP had lost its shame online.
Purpose and effect
Spain’s People’s Party
Party sources said campaign planning involved broader participation in distributing and responding to content.
Sarah Santaolalla and Afra Blanco
Blanco said the party was targeting her for asking about sacrifices and described the approach as pursuit after being singled out.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso appeared at the parade, where she was filmed briefly swaying in her high heels.
Santaolalla shared a video of Ayuso and commented, “There was a party in the penthouse yesterday.
The PP’s official account in the Madrid region replied to Santaolalla with a video of her at a party.
The PP’s official account replied to Blanco after she shared a clip of Feijóo calling for sacrifice from PP voters.
- Video views
- Almost five million views for the PP’s video of Santaolalla
- Santaolalla post
- More than two million users saw her comment about Ayuso’s video
- Santaolalla’s age
- 27, according to El País
- Video’s age
- Santaolalla said the footage was nine or ten years old
- Election timing
- Fewer than 50 days before the general election
What people are saying
I don’t know where they got it from.
The PP has lost its shame on social media.
Of course there was a party, Sara. And the best thing is that there’s a video.
You’re a trade unionist and a leftist, Afra. We already know you don’t make sacrifices.
Posts on X
Claro que hubo fiesta, Sara. Y lo mejor es que hay vídeo.
Eres sindicalista y de izquierdas, Afra. Ya sabemos que tú de sacrificios no eres.
Sources
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