Spanish politics have taken an unexpected turn, resembling the surrealism of Belgian art, with national government negotiations happening in Waterloo. The country has grown accustomed to inconclusive elections and drawn-out negotiations, akin to a bus without its driver that somehow keeps moving forward.
Pedro Sánchez is Spain’s Prime Minister. That is not only a fact but a relief for him and the Spanish Socialist Party, which he leads. What’s also a fact is that Sánchez finds himself as the first Spanish Prime Minister whose popularity waned after election day, a gap largely attributed to the inclusion of the Catalan pro-independence party, Junts, in the coalition government. To understand the intricacies of the negotiations that led to the governmental agreement, a bit of context is needed.
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Hola. Thanks for the concise article. We live in Valencia and it has been interesting to watch the developments Spanish politics. The man/woman in the street comments is that Sanchismo needs to come to grips with “no amnesty.” The EPP and VOX are making it known that they do not support the “insurrection” by Sanchez. Yesterday, was Constitution Day in Spain; and the EPP along with VOX made it clear they ain’t going to play with Sanchez. So, the coalition that Sanchez is teetering on may end up going to the polls in 2024. To add this is, Yolanda Diaz and her progressive stance to ensure that all Spaniards move to a 4 day work week, which is causing issues with the business class. There will be lots to see and follow.
Andrew, your comment hits the nail on the head. My take is that Sánchez has a pretty solid shot at holding onto power until around 2025-2026, give or take. Here’s where our timelines diverge a bit: If Sánchez manages to secure parliamentary approval for the 2024 budget – a crucial vote that keeps the government afloat in Spain – he’s essentially set for a smooth ride until late 2025 or early 2026. That’s because, in Spain, approved annual budgets can carry over for an extra year at most. In a nutshell, smooth sailing ahead if he clinches that 2024 budget!