Government
Concern about shift to the right at the start of Spain’s EU Council Presidency
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, after a press conference. photo
© Bernat Armangue/AP/dpa
In Spain, before the early parliamentary elections, there are signs of a success for the conservatives. For the President of the Commission, this could be cause for celebration. If it weren’t for the right-wing populists.
From the controversial EU asylum reform to additional support for Ukraine: the Spanish government, as chair of the EU Council of Ministers, is to advance major European projects by the end of the year. However, the election in the fourth-largest country in the EU by population is now causing Brussels great concern. One question is what if there is no longer a stable government after the election in just under three weeks. Or what if the conservatives seize power with the help of right-wing populists?
The visit of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday in Madrid was therefore explosive. The top German politician traveled to the Spanish capital together with several other commissioners to discuss the issues of the coming months with the incumbent government.
The program of the meeting in the art museum Galería de Colecciones Reales included talks on further support for Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia. Von der Leyen recently suggested creating a new financing instrument for this. It is initially to be equipped with up to 50 billion euros.
Tricky appearance
For the EU Commission President, the appearances with the socialist head of government Sánchez were rather delicate. As a CDU member, she belongs to the conservative European party family EPP and should actually keep her fingers crossed for Sánchez’ rival Alberto Núñez Feijóo. But he has not ruled out working with the right-wing populist party Vox after the parliamentary elections on July 23 in order to become the new Spanish prime minister.
According to polls, the PP should get the most votes and replace Sánchez’s PSOE as the strongest force. Although Feijóo insists that he wants to govern alone, an absolute majority seems out of reach. Then he would have to rely on Vox, which is in favor of further support for Ukraine, but propagates a retreat of the EU towards a Europe of fatherlands, rejects measures against climate change and wants to deport all foreigners without legal status.
Large parts of the EU Commission view this option with horror. The reason is that Vox wants to stop the climate and environmental protection projects promoted by the EU Commission President and, like partner parties in Hungary and Poland, has a very unique understanding of the rule of law. Vox boss Santiago Abascal also disrupts the role of Germany and France in the EU. “This Franco-German axis, which used to dictate everything, is a thing of the past,” he said recently.
“A shame” for Spain and for Europe
In an interview with the newspaper “El Periódico” over the weekend, Sánchez described a possible government between PP and Vox as “a disgrace” for his country and for Europe. Spain and Europe need a “pro-European government” and not one that aligns with other nations whose “governments are openly opposed to the European project.”
Should Vox be involved in the government in Spain, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki should celebrate. Both have been at loggerheads with von der Leyen for years because she accuses them of serious violations of the rule of law and other fundamental values of the EU and has ensured that they are not paid certain subsidies from the EU budget until further notice. Another concern in the EU Commission is that a difficult government formation in Madrid could delay ongoing EU legislative projects.
Longer delays in the next few months would be problematic, especially because of the European elections in June 2024. Projects that have not been negotiated with the current parliament by then can then be questioned again. This applies in particular to the controversial plans for reforming the European asylum system. Should Spain switch from being in favor of the reform to being opposed to it, this could mean the end of the plans.