By Satyaki Chakraborty
Spain is going for general elections on November 29 amidst massive discontent among the workers and the students against austerity measures by the government leading to the big rise in the living costs. Only on November 11, a general strike was observed in the country by the two biggest trade unions bringing the nation to a halt. The demand for affordable housing was the core of the agenda of the strikers.
President of the Socialist Party Pedro Sanchez, currently Prime Minister, led the coalition of the Socialists and its allies along with the Leftwing group of parties Sumar, after July 2023 elections. Sanchez fell out with the Left on the affordable housing programme issue. He declared snap generation election on November 29, much before the original schedule. Sanchez is leading his Socialist coalition which has projected himself as the potential PM in the campaign. Sumar, now named Broader Front is fighting on its own but indications are clear that BF will cooperate with Sanchez in forming a coalition government again if the results of November 29 elections offer that opportunity.
In the 2023 elections, out of the 350 seats in the lower house, the rightwing People’s Party got 137 seats while PSOE and the Socialists together got 121 seats. Sumar got 31 seats while far right Vox got 33 seats. The other parties got the remaining seats. Pedro Sanchez who became Prime Minister after winning 2018 elections, was able to continue as the PM after having coalition with the Left and a section of the smaller parties including the Catalonians. Spanish Communist Party’s well know woman leader Diaz acted as Deputy Prime Minister for a period.
PM Sanchez opted for the dissolution of the house on October 5 this year ahead of scheduled elections in July 2028 on the basis of his hopes that his measures to improve the economy of France would help him in getting more seats in the next elections and this will help him to form the new government without taking the help of the left group Broad Front.
But the serious train accident in Urda killing 69 people jolted his image and people’s mood was exploited by the rightwing PP and the far right Vox. Latest opinion polls indicate that the PP-Vox combo have a lead over the combination of Pedro Sanchez. The Broad Front of the Left claims that its work among the workers and the Spanish poor in rural areas will help it to do better in the Nov 29 elections. BF hopes to ally with Sanchez after elections with better bargaining power to form the new government.
An opening campaign poll by 40dB. for El Pais and Cadena SER projected a combined 190 seats for the conservative PP and far-right Vox, above the 176 needed for a majority in the 350-seat lower house. The survey put the PP at 31.5% and Vox near 19%, suggesting the far right could almost double its seats compared with 2023, partly by drawing voters away from its conservative rival.
PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo opened his campaign in Badalona, near Barcelona, promising a government that would secure Spain’s borders and require newcomers to integrate into Spanish society. He also pledged competent management and a government that “does not steal,” invoking judicial investigations surrounding the Socialists and Sanchez’s inner circle.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal launched his campaign in Huesca, making tighter immigration controls and preferential treatment for Spanish nationalsas central themes. His party proposes militarizing the border in Ceuta, giving Spaniards priority in housing and prohibiting rentals to immigrants without legal status. Abascal also blamed immigration for pressure on health services, claiming Spaniards were being denied timely treatment. He portrayed the election as a chance for a “profound change,” describing the government as a “criminal, lying and corrupt mafia.”
Opening his campaign in Seville, PM Pedro Sanchez called for an “epic comeback” through mass mobilization of progressive voters. He is presenting the election as a choice between further social progress and a rollback of rights, defending his government’s record on pensions, the minimum wage and parental leave. “Against those who want to cut, cut and cut, we will vote, vote and vote,” he said.
Sanchez also celebrated parliamentary approval of housing protections, including safeguards against eviction and lease extensions. A separate proposal for indefinite lease renewals was rejected. Housing has become Spain’s leading public concern, with nearly 56% naming it among the country’s three main problems in an October CIS survey.
Former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, the candidate for the left-wing Frente Amplio coalition, opened her campaign in Madrid’s working-class Vallecas district. She called for transparent, honest government and urged Sanchez to show “more humility toward the working class and more courage toward speculators.”
Spanish Communist Party which is a part of the Broad Front is optimistic following its success in organizing strikes and demonstration in favour of affordable housing and wage rise. The communists are aware of the surge in favour of PP and Vox in the recent opinion polls, but at the same time, the leaders point out that the party’s consistent stand in favour of affordable housing, should help the party in getting more seats in November 29 elections.
Only two weeks are left for the November 29 polling. Political observers in Europe are keenly watching the outcome of the elections as Spain is an important member of European Union and the composition of the new government will have impact on the other European nations as also the functioning of EU. In the recent four elections including Serbia in Europe, the voters gave their verdict against far right. Whether that trend will be maintained in the Spain elections, that is to be watched. (IPA Service)
