To anyone unfamiliar with the Byzantine nature of Spanish politics, there is no obvious connection between a judge pictured standing over two dozen dead deer, a justice minister who failed to buy a hunting licence, a local government corruption scandal and politicians hiring security guards to spy on their colleagues.

Yet all are linked to the unending struggle between Spain's left and right, represented now by the socialist government of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero on one side and the opposition Popular party led by Mariano Rajoy on the other.