Overview of the Podcast Episode

In this podcast episode, Henry Mance, the FT's Chief Features Writer, discusses the upcoming general election in Spain. He is joined by Pablo Simon, a political scientist and leading political analyst in Spain. They analyze the current situation, including the potential ousting of the center-left Socialist Party, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, by the center-right Popular Party, possibly in coalition with the hard-right party Vox. They delve into the factors that have affected Sanchez's popularity, such as the handling of the pandemic, reliance on coalition partners, and mismanagement of key legislation. They also discuss the rise of Vox and its support base, the ongoing debates about Spain's history and territorial conflicts, and the potential implications of a new government on climate change policies and Spain's EU presidency.