Spanish comedian and director José Mota has criticised the bitter atmosphere in politics ahead of the general election on November 29.
Speaking during an interview on the Ac2ality podcast, the entertainer admitted that he did not vote in Spain's previous national election in 2023 due to personal circumstances, and confirmed that he has not yet decided whether he will take part in the upcoming vote.
The comedian explained that he feels a deep sense of disillusionment with politics, both within Spain and on the international stage. He argued that modern public debate has become heavily warped by confrontation and negative messaging rather than constructive dialogue.
Mota warned that politics has turned into a space ruled by hatred and tension. The hostility has become so pervasive that he actively avoids reading or engaging with political posts whenever they appear on his social media feeds.
Disenchantment with party politics
Despite his frustration with political leaders, Mota made clear that he has not endorsed any party or confirmed how he will act on polling day. Even so, he defended the fundamental importance of voting and democratic institutions.
Democracy, he argued, must always rise above party political differences. He stressed that Spanish citizens urgently need to rediscover common ground at a time when society is suffering from excessive conflict, urging people to focus instead on shared affection and mutual respect.
Role of comedy in public life
Mota connected these political concerns directly to his own work, expressing confidence that comedy has a vital role to play in defusing social anger. To illustrate his point, he pointed to the legacy of the late comedian Chiquito de la Calzada, whose talent for making audiences laugh brought widespread joy to Spanish society.
Chiquito de la Calzada, born Gregorio Esteban Sánchez Fernández, was one of Spain's most celebrated comic performers, rising to fame in the 1990s with his distinctive surreal delivery, unique vocabulary and warm stage persona that appealed across political and cultural divides.
Career on screen and upcoming vote
Mota himself has been a mainstay of Spanish television comedy for more than three decades. After rising to prominence as one half of the popular duo Cruz y Raya alongside Juan Muñoz, he went on to lead his own weekly sketch programmes and host Spain's traditional New Year's Eve comedy specials on public broadcaster RTVE.
His appearance on Ac2ality, a digital news and interview programme popular with younger audiences, follows his work directing Arriba Tutto, his first feature film as a director.
Spaniards are scheduled to head to the polls on November 29 following intense campaigning by party leaders across the country. Whether Mota decides to cast his ballot remains an open question, but his plea for moderation has resonated amid an increasingly polarised political landscape.
