Madrid (AP) – On Sunday, voters in Spain will head to the polls for an election that could result in a swing to the populist right, potentially causing major changes after five years under a left-wing government. Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming vote.
Opinion polls indicate that the political right has an advantage going into the election, raising the possibility of a neo-fascist party being part of Spain’s next government. This would mark the first time in Spain’s history since the transition to democracy that the extreme right has been in power.
With no party expected to win an absolute majority, voters have the choice between another leftist governing coalition or a coalition between the right and the far right. The Popular Party, a right-of-center party and the front-runner in the polls, along with the extreme right Vox party, present the election as an opportunity to end what they call “Sanchismo” – the alleged dictatorial ways of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the left’s radical ideology, and the government’s numerous lies.
On the other side, the Socialists and a new movement called Sumar, which brings together 15 small leftist parties for the first time, warn that a right-wing government would jeopardize the progress made since the Franco regime.
So why were early elections called? Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for early elections just a day after his party suffered significant losses in local and regional elections. Previously, Sánchez had planned to complete his four-year term but changed his decision after the May defeat, believing that it was fair for Spaniards to have a say in shaping the country’s political future without delay.
Since the May elections, the Popular Party has emerged as the most-voted party by a wide margin, giving it the right to take office in most towns and regions. The Popular Party and Vox have also agreed to govern together in approximately 140 cities and towns, as well as co-govern two additional regions.
The Socialists and other left-leaning parties have lost some political influence across the country, but they have regrouped and regained some ground. As a result, the outcome of the election remains uncertain.
A government formed by the Popular Party and Vox would signify another shift to the right within the EU, following recent trends in countries such as Sweden, Finland, and Italy. Germany and France are particularly concerned about the potential consequences for EU immigration and climate policies. Both of Spain’s main leftist parties are pro-EU, while the Popular Party also supports the EU, but Vox does not.
The election comes at a critical time as Spain holds the rotating presidency of the EU. Sánchez had hoped to use this six-month term to showcase the progress made by his government. However, an election defeat for Sánchez could result in the Popular Party taking over the EU presidency.
The campaign leading up to the election has been marked by mudslinging from all sides, with both the left and right accusing each other of lying about their policies and records. The Popular Party has raised questions about Sánchez’s integrity by highlighting his numerous policy reversals and alliances with regional secessionist parties, which has even alienated some left-wing voters. The left has sought to convince voters that there is little difference between the two right-wing parties and that their victory would roll back decades of social progress.
Although most polls place the Popular Party ahead of the Socialists and Vox ahead of Sumar for third place, approximately 30% of the electorate remains undecided. The election taking place in the summer months means that many citizens may be on vacation, but there has been a significant increase in postal voting requests, and officials are estimating a 70% election turnout.
One potential surprise factor is Sumar – a new movement consisting of 15 small left-wing parties, including Podemos and led by popular Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz. This is the first time these small left parties have united on a joint ticket in Spain. The previous fragmentation of left-wing parties was blamed for their losses in the May elections, but they hope that a unified front will yield better results.
Sumar’s main goal is to surpass Vox and secure a significant third-place finish, which could provide valuable support for another leftist coalition government. Surveys conducted during the campaign consistently suggested the possibility of an absolute majority for the Popular Party and Vox.
In conclusion, the upcoming election in Spain holds the potential for significant political change. The shifting dynamics between the left, right, and far right parties will have implications not just for Spain but also for the broader European Union.
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