Podcast Summary: Un tema Al Día

Episode: Soy joven, pero no de extrema derecha
Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Juanlu Sánchez
Main Guests: Lucas (19), Sergio (26), Blanca (25), Ana López (politóloga), África Gelardo (periodista, elDiario.es)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Juanlu Sánchez and his guests dive into recent shifts in youth political alignment in Spain, particularly the growing support among young men for the far-right party Vox—a trend revealed by the latest CIS survey. The episode confronts the widespread notion that “all young people are now right- or far-right-wing,” giving voice to those who resist this trend. Experts and young progressives dissect the reasons behind the ultra-right’s appeal and discuss the erosion of left-wing influence, especially in digital spaces.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Changing Stereotypes About Youth Politics

• Host’s Introduction (00:05): Challenges the cliché that youth are always left-leaning, suggesting rebellion now often takes a reactionary form.
• Juanlu Sánchez: “La derecha forma parte de la moda juvenil. Lo rebelde es ser reaccionario.” (00:08)

2. Diversity of Views Among Youth

• Vox’s Popularity (00:56): CIS data shows young men between 18–24 now prefer far-right leaders; Vox is the most voted party in this group.
• Personal Testimonies:
  • Lucas (19): Insists he’s not far-right; feels frustration at his environment turning reactionary, citing experiences with xenophobia and homophobic aggression. (02:11)
  • Sergio (26): Feels he’s part of a minority; critical of the lack of productive dialogue with the far right. (02:38)
  • Blanca (25): Stresses she has never and will never vote for the far right. (01:38, 14:20)
• Quote (Lucas):
  “Desde escuchar… xenofobia en mi ciudad… escuchar de agresiones homófobas por sus calles, saber de gente que se introducen en grupúsculos fascistas en tu propia ciudad…” (02:11)

3. Gender and Class Differences

• Women’s Attitudes:
  • Host (01:43): Notes young women tend to remain more progressive.
• Class Differences (05:59):
  • Those from upper-class families show a higher tendency toward the far right.

4. Root Causes: Despair, Identity, and Education

• No Historical Anchor (04:30):
  • Ana López: The young lack direct experience of dictatorship and poor civic education, making authoritarianism feel abstract or even fashionable.
  • Quote:
    “La gran mayoría … no lo van a hacer por nostalgia franquista…es algo mucho más complejo...convertir ese autoritarismo histórico en una estética juvenil de rebeldía…” (04:30)
• Economic Despair (06:14):
  • África Gelardo: Today's youth never saw the promised opportunities materialize; economic crisis and pessimism create fertile ground for simplistic far-right solutions.
  • Quote:
    “…solo han conocido la crisis y la falta de expectativas...en ese hueco enorme que crea la desesperanza donde desgraciadamente se cuela la extrema derecha con soluciones sencillas a problemas complicados.” (06:14)

5. Far-right Resurgence on Social Media

• Digital Dominance (08:05–08:37):
  • The far right’s success is inseparable from their early, aggressive, and memetic use of platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
  • Vox’s TikTok account substantially outperforms traditional parties.
  • Ana López: “La extrema derecha entendió antes que el resto de formaciones que la política joven es política digital.” (08:37–09:08)
  • Lucas: “El terreno de combate no es el Congreso de los Diputados.” (10:18)
• Algorithms Amplify Extremism:
  • Content that’s polemical, emotional, and divisive gets algorithmic priority—matching the far right’s messaging style.

6. Why Is the Left Failing?

• Four Patterns of Failure (Ana López, 10:51):
  • 1. Future Narrative Loss: The left no longer sets the agenda on young people’s futures.
  • 2. Neglect of Emotion: Progressives focus on policies, not feelings; far-right taps into anger, fear, and belonging.
  • 3. Cultural Retreat: The right leads in memes, communities, entertainment; the left is stuck in old media.
  • 4. Moralizing Attitude: Comes across as patronizing, which drives away naturally rebellious youth.
  • Notable Quote:
    “El gran triunfo de la extrema derecha es que les ofrece esa identidad donde sentirse seguros frente a una izquierda que ha conquistado y consolidado sus derechos.” (12:12)

7. Hope and Potential for Change

• Cautious Optimism:
  • Sergio: Believes “hay esperanza”—particularly if a far-right government’s failures are evident. (12:35–12:48)
  • África Gelardo: Warns against fatalism; insists hope is vital and that dismissing youth only empowers the far right. (13:41)
  • Blanca: Calls for a re-thinking of socio-political and educational structures. (14:20)
• Paths Forward (Ana López, 14:58):
  • Examples from Europe: Young left-wing leaders succeed when they blend hope and identity politics with savvy digital communication.
  • Quote:
    “La esperanza… no es un eslogan vacío, sino que es una herramienta también de movilización muy poderosa cuando se articula bien.” (15:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Juanlu Sánchez:
  “La derecha forma parte de la moda juvenil. Lo rebelde es ser reaccionario.” (00:08)
• Lucas:
  “Desde escuchar, ver o sentir xenofobia en mi ciudad… saber de gente que se introducen en grupúsculos fascistas en tu propia ciudad…” (02:11)
• Ana López:
  “El gran triunfo de la extrema derecha es que les ofrece esa identidad donde sentirse seguros…” (12:12) “La esperanza… no es un eslogan vacío, sino que es una herramienta también de movilización muy poderosa...” (15:21)

Important Timestamps

• 00:05–00:56: Introduction, setting up the episode’s theme, youth testimonial snippets
• 01:43–02:57: First-person accounts of being a progressive/leftist in a largely right-leaning youth climate
• 03:18–04:30: Ana López analysis on memory, democracy, and right-wing “aesthetic”
• 06:14–08:05: Socioeconomic roots and digital communication—África Gelardo’s reporting
• 08:37–10:05: Deep dive on social media strategy and data (Ana López)
• 10:51–12:35: Why the right seduces youth; four strategic mistakes of the left (Ana López)
• 12:35–15:49: Young guests and experts discuss hope, future prospects, and examples from abroad

Tone & Style

The tone balances direct testimony from young Spaniards with expert analysis, blending frustration, realism, and cautious optimism. The conversation is energetic and grounded, with an undercurrent of worry about polarization but also a call to action for the left and progressives. The language is current, relatable, and at times urgent but hopeful.

In Summary

This episode debunks the oversimplification that Spain’s youth are uniformly far-right, spotlighting the pressures faced by progressive young people and dissecting the mechanics behind the right’s digital and cultural dominance. The experts highlight structural opportunities for rebuilding left-wing relevance and underscore the pivotal role of hope and emotionally resonant narratives in political mobilization. The conversation is a nuanced reminder: youth politics are dynamic, complex—and still open to change.