OPINION - SPANISH STYLE
Aug 8th, 2007 by Conor McCabe
Satire is a funny old game.
A couple of weeks ago the Spanish government announced a new pregnancy incentive. It guaranteed a payment of 2,500 euro to the parents of every new child born in the country. The Barcelona-based satirical magazine El Jueves (Thursday in Spanish) decided to comment. The result was the above cartoon, which shows the crown prince Filipe having sex with his wife, Letizia. “Just imagine if you end up pregnant”, says the prince. This will be the closest thing to work I’ve ever done in my life.”
Under Spanish law it is a criminal offence to insult or attack the royal family. One judge has already called for the magazine to be banned. The editors could face up to two years in prison. Of course no-one expects it to go that far and already the furore has gained more publicity than if it had been left to pass over. The edition with the prince cartoon is already a prized possession - with bids of over 40 euro on eBay.
Aside from all the controversy, the cartoon stands alone as a bawdy commentary on Spanish life.
Could this happen in Ireland - maybe a cartoon of Mary Harney with a strap-on, fucking Bertie from behind, while screaming “say my name bitch” and Bertie going “CO-LOCATION! CO-LOCATION! CO-LOCATION!”
Not in the print media anyway. Oh well.
Still. You’ve got to love the Spanish.
“Could this happen in Ireland - maybe a cartoon of Mary Harney with a strap-on, fucking Bertie from behind, while screaming “say my name bitch” and Bertie going “CO-LOCATION! CO-LOCATION! CO-LOCATION!””
You’ve just made me cancel lunch and revisit breakfast..
That’s an absolutely hilarious cartoon; one of the best I’ve seen in years. All the funnier for its anti-monarchist bent.
I’m guessing you’re in Spain. I’m right, aren’t I?
‘fraid so. Was over in the Basque country. A beautiful place.