Proteger and amparar

Proteger and amparar
 

What is the difference between these two verbs? The headline of El País today is

Son sinónimos. No hay diferencia.
Fuente: http://lema.rae.es/drae/?val=proteger

Thanks - does the headline sound ridiculous to a native Spanish speaker?

It's very common in the diaries (It's a way to emphasize the news)

Thanks again. I think you mean (daily) newspapers; diaries are personal records not for publication. :)

Amparar is protecting by giving refuge, shelter, more like a haven. It's kind of passive: to protect by hiding, hence the fixed phrases "los ladrones actuaron al amparo de la noche" or the fixed translation "me amparo en la Quinta Enmienda" ("I plead the Fifth", without ampararse meaning to plead)

Proteger is protecting by defending or shielding; it's kind of active: protegerse con un arma ( ampararse con un arma has no sense and it only suggests loosely hiding by taking hostages)

Los partidos protegen y amparan a los acusados de corrupción implies parties actively defending these alleged crooks (with the crooks staying out of the party structure) or by sheltering them in the party as an institution (with the crooks being received in the party as members with all the loyalties and privileges). No matter the real worlds works or not that way, people hearing both verbs automatically recognize the difference.

Interesting subtlety - thanks.

Yes! daily newspaper, thanks! :)

While I agree with the subtle nuances noted by Alec, it seems to me that "proteger y amparar" here, are used pleonasticaly for emphasis, flow and impact of the headline... Very normal stylistic resource in Spanish...

It reminds me Jesús Hermida in his days of "corresponsal en Nueva York"... he would start his news cast saying words to the effect of,

"En los círculos de Wall Street (Gual Estrit), se piensa, se considera, se percibe, se cree... [and maybe some more other synonyms...] que la prosperidad económica del país... (bla, bla, bla)

Some dailies have a column called a diary. To pick the example I'm most familiar with, Hugh Muir's Diary in the Guardian.

Aid and assist , often go together too even though it's a bit redundant. I think it's the English equivalent to proteger y amparar.

How about "protect and shelter"?

That is a direct translation, but it is not commonly used. To aid and assist is a common phrase.

Ok. Thanks.