Aaah! The sweet smell of socialism
Paul Hamilos in Madrid
Monday January 14, 2008
Guardian Unlimited
Election campaigns have witnessed some strange political strategies over the years, but the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) surely broke new ground today when it launched its very own perfume.
At a press conference today, the PSC answered the question on everybody's noses since the party announced last week it had created the fragrance: what does socialism smell like?
Apparently, it mixes Mediterranean herbs and fruits such as Bergamot orange and white tea with base notes from the Orient, which come together to produced an aroma of "confidence, equality, progress and efficiency".
Oddly, it also smells a little like air freshener. One journalist at the press conference said the smell was so strong that he was practically overwhelmed and left feeling faint.
The creator, Albert Majós, told Cadena Ser radio station today that it was neither a "perfume nor air-freshener" but the aromatic representation of socialism's values.
The vice-president of the PSC, Manuela de Madre, argued that overall "it would be no bad thing if Catalan politics could relax a little using this fragrance" and recommended "the aromatic and relaxing herbs" to the conservative opposition People's Party (PP).
De Madre said the PSC would be sending a sample to all the political parties in the Catalan parliament.
The fragrance, which comes in little bags to be placed in all good leftwing wardrobes, will go on sale at the PSC headquarters in Barcelona and its other offices, as well as at party meetings.
A spokesman for the PSC said it could also be used in offices to create a pleasant environment of equality and fairness.
The Spanish prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, dissolved parliament today, officially announcing the general election, which will take place on March 9.
It looks set to be a close race between the ruling Socialists and the PP, after what has been a tense political year, with angry divisions between the left and right over the strength of the economy, the government's handling of the terrorism threat posed by Islamic fundamentalism and the Basque separatist group Eta, and social policies such as gay marriage and abortion.
Polls show the Socialists with a lead of two to four points over the opposition, but statistically the parties are virtually in a dead heat.
Whether or not the smell of socialism will help return the left to power remains to be seen.
Paul Hamilos in Madrid
Monday January 14, 2008
Guardian Unlimited
Election campaigns have witnessed some strange political strategies over the years, but the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) surely broke new ground today when it launched its very own perfume.
At a press conference today, the PSC answered the question on everybody's noses since the party announced last week it had created the fragrance: what does socialism smell like?
Apparently, it mixes Mediterranean herbs and fruits such as Bergamot orange and white tea with base notes from the Orient, which come together to produced an aroma of "confidence, equality, progress and efficiency".
Oddly, it also smells a little like air freshener. One journalist at the press conference said the smell was so strong that he was practically overwhelmed and left feeling faint.
The creator, Albert Majós, told Cadena Ser radio station today that it was neither a "perfume nor air-freshener" but the aromatic representation of socialism's values.
The vice-president of the PSC, Manuela de Madre, argued that overall "it would be no bad thing if Catalan politics could relax a little using this fragrance" and recommended "the aromatic and relaxing herbs" to the conservative opposition People's Party (PP).
De Madre said the PSC would be sending a sample to all the political parties in the Catalan parliament.
The fragrance, which comes in little bags to be placed in all good leftwing wardrobes, will go on sale at the PSC headquarters in Barcelona and its other offices, as well as at party meetings.
A spokesman for the PSC said it could also be used in offices to create a pleasant environment of equality and fairness.
The Spanish prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, dissolved parliament today, officially announcing the general election, which will take place on March 9.
It looks set to be a close race between the ruling Socialists and the PP, after what has been a tense political year, with angry divisions between the left and right over the strength of the economy, the government's handling of the terrorism threat posed by Islamic fundamentalism and the Basque separatist group Eta, and social policies such as gay marriage and abortion.
Polls show the Socialists with a lead of two to four points over the opposition, but statistically the parties are virtually in a dead heat.
Whether or not the smell of socialism will help return the left to power remains to be seen.
posted by Heidi at 1:57 PM
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