By Antonis Anzoletou

His decision Pedro Sanchez will lead Spain to early elections, reminiscent of the move made by Alexis Tsipras after the local government and European elections of 2019. Noting a low percentage in the Euro-election as well (23.75%), he decided to prematurely request the popular verdict for July , while normally the constitutional term of his government ended in October. The former prime minister had not succeeded in halting the decline of SYRIZA, and handed over power to Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Spain’s socialist prime minister suffered a major defeat in local and municipal elections – from his right, as did Alexis Tsipras four years ago – and so his fellow citizens will be asked to vote for their new government in the heart of summer.

For such a touristic southern European country, the choice was a surprise, and was characterized as an extremely high-risk move. On July 23, the popular verdict will be called after the PSOE lost 7 of the 12 autonomous regions in which elections were held. The center-right People’s Party took the lead by making many promises to take power in July. Elections would normally be held in December. The defeat for Sánchez was a big one since even the PSOE’s generally successful governors or mayors, such as those of Valencia and Seville, failed to be re-elected.

How are things now in Spain? Socialists did not sink, but the blow is great. They lost more than one unit compared to the previous local elections, falling behind the PP (Partido Popular) by about three units, which at the same time increased its strength by 9%. The People’s party also took advantage of the elimination of the center-right Ciuadadanos, which eventually disbanded. Similarities with Greece existed, as voters moved from the center-left to the center-right wing. This was more evident than the fall of Podemos who lost all ten of their MPs in the local Parliament of Madrid and elected none in Valencia. The once powerful party of the Left, which had caused an “earthquake” in Europe with 21% in 2015, received just 3.2% of the vote. The internal splits they had, but also their participation in the government, obviously cost him a lot. At the same time, the far-right Vox, with its doubling of percentages (reached 7%), showed that it is establishing itself as the third strongest force in the country. It is recalled that in the last national elections of 2019 it had reached 15%.

What could work as a rallying point for the progressive forces in Spain is the fact that Vox appears willing to co-govern with the PP at the local level with an eye on June. Alberto Núñez Feijo, head of the Popular party, does not give a “green light” to these partnerships, as he understands that the benefits of such a move will be temporary. It is obvious that the Spanish Prime Minister wants to appoint the “boon” of fascism that threatens his country. The pre-election campaign coincides with the discussions on the formation of the regional governments. Everything shows that after the 2015 reshuffles, bipartisanship is back in the foreground with PP and PSOE dominating.

The results of the Spanish elections offer useful conclusions compared to those of the Greek elections. Bipartisanship in Greece “lame” now appears with SYRIZA from the position of official opposition retreating significantly. A difficult moment looms on the horizon for the Left in southern Europe after the fall of Podemos. A similarity, but also a difference, is the fact that the municipal elections in our country follow the national ones. In other words, in relation to Spain. A comparison is already being made with the subject of VAT reduction. There has been a lot of talk on the part of SYRIZA and PASOK about the need for its rates to fall on basic goods and Pedro Sánchez, unlike the New Democracy government, has reduced it since January to a range of foodstuffs. The result did not justify him, nor did the successes he had in the economy with the reduction of unemployment, but also the increase of the basic salary. Political alliances are what ultimately left their mark on Spain.