Elections in Spain – Socialists on the verge of a nervous breakdown (or Volver of the centre-right)
Written by Esteban González Pons, Vice President, European People’s Party, Vice Chair, EPP Group in the European Parliament, Vice Secretary General for Institutional Action, Partido Popular
Partido Popular is a very popular party right now. Under the renewed leadership of Alberto Núñez Feijóo we lead all polling ahead of the local and regional elections in May and the general election in December. By this time next year, Spain will once again have a centre-right, IDU-affiliated Prime Minister.
We are well prepared to address the challenges to freedom and democracy, both in Spain and internationally. Partido Popular is a moderate, centrist party that has been able to stop the rise of populism and extremism wherever we are in government. We are ready to strengthen our democratic institutions and the rule of law, to pursue responsible fiscal policies and sustainable job creation, and to finally focus on the everyday problems of the middle class.
Change is urgently needed in Spain after five years of leftist governments. Pedro Sánchez, recently elected President of the Socialist International, is a fine example of socialism run amok. Economic mismanagement is so grave that Spain is the only EU Member State that has not recovered its pre-pandemic GDP levels. Spanish households have lost an average of 7.9% in disposable income since 2019, the highest figure among OECD countries. Record tax revenues due to inflation have not meant a reduced deficit; on the contrary, public finances in Spain are more unsustainable with each passing day.
Politically, let us not forget that the Spanish coalition government is an alliance of the Socialist Party and the Communist Party, Spain being the only country in Europe where the far left is in power at national level. This coalition government is bitterly split whether it comes to military aid to Ukraine, NATO membership, populist attacks on the private sector and radical feminism. Recently, a legislative error has cut short the jail time of almost 950 sex offenders, and the coalition partners have been unable to agree on a solution to fix it.
Moreover, the damage to institutions and the backsliding on the rule of law under this government have been unprecedented. Pedro Sánchez has undermined the powers of Parliament and the regions and has attacked the independence of the judiciary and the Constitutional Court.
Partido Popular and its President, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, stand committed to reversing the economic and political damage done to Spain. We can promise stability, credibility, and solvency, both at home and abroad. And we can also promise moderation, serenity, and dialogue, far from the polarization that has prevailed these last few years. We are working hard to score big wins in May, which will pave the way for a great electoral night later in the year.
The triumphs of Partido Popular will also be the triumphs of the entire International Democrat Union. Our electoral victories will hopefully confirm that the centre-right values of freedom and economic development under the rule of law are far from being in global retreat, but are rather making comeback, ready to Volver. To return to real politics as well.