Spaniards Await 'Political Spring' In Upcoming Series Of Elections

(@FahadShabbir)

Spaniards Await 'Political Spring' in Upcoming Series of Elections

Spanish voters are due to be called to the polls four times this spring, a rare event which may probably affect the political landscape of the southern European nation, with recently formed right-wing euroskeptic party Vox steadily gaining momentum

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th April, 2019) Spanish voters are due to be called to the polls four times this spring, a rare event which may probably affect the political landscape of the southern European nation, with recently formed right-wing euroskeptic party Vox steadily gaining momentum.

The country is getting ready for quite a political spring. April 28, the Spaniards are due to vote in a general election and later choose their candidates in the municipal, regional and ultimately in the much-awaited European parliamentary elections (the latter three are scheduled May 26th).

It is the third time the Spaniards go to vote in 4 years, a record for the country since 1979.

The strategy of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez who assumed the office in June 2018 following the no-confidence vote against his predecessor, Mariano Rajoy, is "to capitalize on a good result on April 28th, at the general elections, to be a winner too in the municipal and European elections nearly one month later, on May 26th," Enrique Calvet Chambon, a member of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament, told Sputnik.

"Political life has become much more polarized between left and right over the last few years. It will be extremely difficult, on the left as well as on the right, to form a coalition government. This is because the political scene is so fragmented and polarized," Chambon stressed.

In February Sanchez found himself in hot water after he failed to get support for the 2019 budget in parliament. The draft budget was rejected by Catalan lawmakers, as well as the center-right and the conservatives. This event later paved the way for a snap general election in the country.

According to Josep Maria Terricabras from the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance in the European Parliament, "even if Sanchez' budget was not approved because the Catalan parties stopped supporting him, he could run the country by government decrees for the few issues that were refused in his budget."

Sanchez "could have continued, but saw a window of opportunity for himself and the Socialists: the economy is improving and after a few months, his minority government is not badly perceived by the population, so he jumped on the opportunity, by organizing a quick election and hopes that the good results for him, will influence the following European and municipal elections in May," he said.

VOX BURSTING INTO POLITICAL GAME

The Spanish political system is torn between several parties. What is striking is the appearance of the right-wing party Vox (Latin for "voice") in the political landscape, after their unexpected breakthrough in the Andalusian regional election December 2018. Back then the party celebrated its fifth anniversary.

At the general election April 28 where people will choose the 13th Cortes Generales, the bicameral legislative chambers, Vox is expected to enter the parliament for the first time.

A poll released by the Spanish Center for Sociological Research (CIS) earlier in April showed that the Sanchez-led Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) is likely to win the general elections with over 30 percent of support. Yet Vox led by Santiago Abascal is projected to get 11.9 percent of the vote and up to 37 seats.

According to Michel Liegeois, a political analyst at the University of Louvain in Belgium, polling agencies have always had difficulty in correctly assessing the importance of the vote for the right-wing parties in Europe, including the vote for the National Rally (former National Front) led by Marine Le Pen in France, Alternative for Germany (AfD) or now Vox in Spain.

"This is due to the fact that the persons voting for these parties often prefer not to mention it when answering questions, and the result is every time surprising, so some polling agencies are taking this into account and slightly increase the expected results of the right by a few points," he told Sputnik.

He added that in order to do that and tamper with the results in "a serious scientific way," one needs "the experience of several elections, to detect the importance of the 'hiding' effect'."

Liegeois reminded that in December 2018, ahead of the Andalusia vote, Vox was credited with no more than 8-9 percent by the pollsters, while its result was 11 percent and 12 seats.

"But it is the only reference for polling agencies, so they might be wrong by a few percentage points again," he said.

CATALAN ISSUE REMAINS HOT EVEN 1.5 YEARS AFTER HISTORIC REFERENDUM

The landmark Catalan Independence Referendum took place October 2017. Ahead of the vote Spanish authorities declared it illegal and banned the event. However, during the vote day, Spanish police started raids on the polling stations, which resulted in clashes with local residents. As a result, over 1,000 people were injured in violence that was later severely condemned by human rights groups.

Twelve senior members of the Catalan independence movement are on trial and the first phase of the trial took place in February this year.

"The territorial issue of Catalan self-determination will remain an important element [during the elections]. With the continuing trial in Madrid of the Catalan leaders, Catalonia will remain a main topic in the elections," Chambon believed.

"Regardless of the level of administrative regional de-centralization and management, only with a unified Spain can we ensure peace, freedom and prosperity for the Spanish citizens in the future and keep its influence in a more integrated Europe. The values of the Spanish people must prevail over the territories. There is one Spanish market, and its unity is an indispensable [tool] to fight the current major unemployment and the existing inequality," he added.

In the meantime, Terricabras assumes that the Catalan issue will always be on the agenda during and even after the elections.

"As for Catalonia, it will remain in the news throughout the election process. Even during the Andalusia elections, everybody was speaking about the Catalan question. The Spanish media do not tell the truth about what happens, but the trials, which will last in Madrid until September probably, will make it that the Catalan question remains in the limelight," he stated.

Catalan pro-independence activists repeatedly blamed Madrid's crackdown, including the blocking of polling stations and confiscation of votes, for the low turnout at the referendum in October 2017 which was attended by only half of the population eligible to vote.

Back in December, former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont stated that the case of Catalonia should become an example of self-determination that is exercised in a peaceful and democratic way and without double standards on human rights.