Spanish Election

I can't help feeling a sense of dismay at the Spanish election result. There is clearly something odd going on in the psyche of the Spanish electorate. Before the Madrid bombs the incumbent party was ahead. Yesterday they lost. What’s going on?

Whatever the answer, this is a disaster for Blair and Bush, and probably for the rest of us. This is a clear sign of weakness in the face of a new form of fascism and will give the terrorists no end of encouragement. There will be more suffering, not less.

By some accounts the new socialist party of government is riddled with corruption and power rests in the hands of regional power barons. Will the Spaniards regret this choice?