In a society as hierarchical and organized as that of Rome, access to public office was regulated and was done through relatively democratic elections. Only relatively democratic, because to be a candidate for one of these positions you had to have sufficient resources and because only free men with Roman citizenship could vote —for the umpteenth time, women were left out of being able to be protagonists of history—. Most of the public positions were held annually, were not paid and, on some occasions, were held by two members in order not to monopolize power (sometimes this duality made decision-making difficult). Being unpaid, only candidates from wealthy families with resources could be candidates, since they had to finance electoral campaigns out of their pockets and even all the expenses during their mandate. And they were not few, because to gain the favor of the people they paid for public works or financed shows (theater, chariot races, gladiator fights...). But do not suffer for them, for some it was a great honor —what today could be called a public service—, and for others it was an investment in the future —to reach a lifetime position in the Senate, the elephant graveyard—. Contrary to what happens in cemeteries, where those who are inside cannot leave and none of those who are outside want to enter, in politics those who are inside do not want to leave and all those who are outside want to enter. The different public positions held by the same person throughout his life were called cursus honorum (political career).
The origin of the term "candidate" is curious, coming from the Latin candidatus , which means "the one who wears white" because during the electoral campaign they had to wear a white tunic (innocent) that showed their honesty and purity to access public office. Ironies of life or of language, all the corrupt politicians who one day and another also monopolize the front pages of the press at some point were candidates. Once the elections were called and the different candidates were made public, the electoral campaign began... and the race for the vote. Although now the candidates really like that of releasing harangues so that their unconditional fans applaud them, walking the streets of the cities and photographing themselves making love to the children, giving kisses and hugs left and right, they soon forget the "never promise with what that fulfilling does not count” and they put into practice the “promise until you put it in and once you make it, you forget what was promised”. And that is precisely what they did in Rome, win the vote on the street. Here the figure of the nomenclator was of special importance. . Although today it has remained as a simple "catalogue of names", in ancient Rome the slaves who accompanied the candidate through the streets to discreetly whisper in his ear the name of the person they were addressing to ask for his or her name were thus called. vote. If a candidate addresses you by name, he knows if you have a family or what you work for, he has a lot of cattle. Therefore, his work was very important and, logically, they must have an elephant's memory to be able to remember all these data. Looking for more similarities with our time, they also had their own particular posters. Groups of followers and even people hired for the occasion, walked the streets to look for the best "shop windows" where they could stamp graffiti (graffiti) selling the excellence of their candidate or taking out the dirty laundry of their opponents. And of course…, the eternal corruption. Although vote buying was strictly prohibited, money and other perquisites were responsible for voting for one candidate or another.
And now that we know how the elections unfolded, we are going to extrapolate the candidates and parties that will stand for election in Hispania on November 10 and take them to Ancient Rome. And for this I will use the magnificent thread published on twitter by Cierva de Sertorio.
Popular Graco brothers lead Unita Possumus (United We Can) , with the name in neutral gender so as not to discriminate. They fight for the rights of the proletarians and the mulieres, who for some reason their mother Cornelia was the most important of her time. They are open to all socii and peregrini.
The young Cayo Octavio Turino represents Magis patria (More Country) , a faction born this year as a result of the political crisis. It accepts veterans from all the popular parties, and is considered by many to be the future of the Res publica. He is not too different from Unita Possumus.
The Popularis Factio (ad) Orbem Excipiendum (PSOE) o PFOE (popular faction to save the world) is an ambiguous faction. He is popular, but not too popular, since Caesar, as soon as he takes power, does not let go, and only wants it for himself. The people love it, and it is the party with the most representation.
If PFOE is equivocal, Cives (Citizens) even more. Pompey does not disgust either Caesar's popular or Sulla's optimates. They represent the commoners enriched and moved by interests. They are gaining more and more popularity thanks to the campaigns and exploits of their leader.
Cato and his traditionalism are reflected in the Pro Populo (PP). Optimates from head to toe, they defend the Mos maiorum (customs of the ancestors; conservatives) firmly and oppose the progressive attempts of the popular. He doesn't like foreigners very much, and his motto is Gibraltar Delenda Est.
Lastly are Sila and Vox , the most optimate faction of all. They come to save the republic from the popular scum and to establish a new order (if necessary with bans). They campaign with the Roman eagle and with the attacks of Mithridates in the East on Romans.
