The podcast discusses Spain's upcoming general election, including the emergence of various political parties, alliances to govern, and challenges faced by the incumbent government. It also explores the unintended consequences of a law on sexual offences and the rise of Vox, a controversial political party that was split from the popular party.
The upcoming general election in Spain may result in the center-right Popular Party forming a coalition government with the hard-right party Vox, potentially impacting Spain's climate change policies and EU presidency.
The erosion of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's popularity was influenced by factors such as handling of the pandemic, reliance on coalition partners, mismanagement of legislation, and controversy among right-wing voters.
Deep dives
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.
The Political Challenges Faced by Pedro Sanchez
Pedro Sanchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, called for a snap election after facing setbacks in regional elections. His government initially showed stability, especially during the pandemic. However, the replacement of the leader of the center-right Popular Party and the Ukrainian War led to the erosion of his government's popularity. The coalition formed with Podemos, a left-wing party, and the reliance on separatist parties in Catalonia and the Basque Country created a noisy coalition and generated controversy among right-wing voters. Mismanagement of crucial legislation and internal disagreements further affected the government's reputation.
The Rise of Vox and Shifting Political Dynamics
Vox, a right-wing party, emerged partly in response to the Catalan crisis of 2017 and the rise of Spanish nationalism. While initially focused on opposing regional independence movements, Vox has expanded its agenda to include topics associated with radical right-wing parties in other European countries. Their anti-immigration stance is particularly directed towards migrants from Eastern Europe and North Africa, fueling Islamophobia. They have gained support by tapping into nationalist sentiments, leading to a more divided political landscape in Spain. The possibility of Vox's involvement in the next government raises concerns about the country's stance on issues like climate change.
Potential Implications of the General Election
The upcoming general election in Spain could result in the center-right Popular Party becoming the largest party, potentially forming a government with the support of Vox. The absence of a grand coalition between the major parties is unlikely due to the political culture in Spain, which prioritizes clear government-opposition dynamics. A new government led by the Popular Party with Vox's influence could have implications for Spain's climate change policies, with less commitment to environmental issues. Additionally, Spain's EU presidency may be impacted, as a government with a weaker focus on European integration and limited time to engage with EU affairs could hinder Spain's influence within the European Union.
The government of Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez looks set to lose Sunday's elections to the centre-right People's party. But the PP may be unable to form a government without the participation of the hard-right party Vox. Henry Mance, standing in for Gideon Rachman, discusses what this will mean for Spain with the Madrid-based political scientist Pablo Simón. Clips: Deutsche Welle; El País
