HACER DE LA NECESIDAD, VIRTUD

 

Sometimes a public figure - a politician, an actor, a writer- lets drop a phrase in an interview or formal chat, and it goes viral. Beleaguered Spanish PM, Pedro Sánchez, eager to justify his blunders, summed up his political philosophy  in the Spanish phrase: "hacer de la necesidad, virtud."  The English saying Any port in a storm captures the idea perfectly. And, of course, make a virtue of necessity." In adverse circumstances, one welcomes any source of relief or escape.  Sánchez would cut a deal with Old Nick himself to keep his government afloat. He could have also chosen other Spanish idioms with a similar meaning: "La necesidad obliga" or "en tiempos de guerra, cualquier hoyo es trinchera (y cualquier palo es fusil)." And now, in Spain, plenty of socialists are adopting this "philosophy of life" -  come hell or high water. In short, for Mr. Sánchez the end justifies the means.