Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez courted the votes of pro-European voters at a campaign event in Palma. On 14 November, the socialist prime minister took on Santiago Abascal, leader of the right-wing Vox party, and warned of political backsliding under Vox and the conservative People’s PartyThe snap Parliamentary election will take place on 29 November.
Sánchez spoke at the main campaign event of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party at the Balearic Islands. According to the organisers, around 5,000 people came to the Son Fusteret venue. The prime minister asked for the support of those who wanted more Europe, not less. He pointed to the support for Abascal from European right-wing politicians, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
The prime minister linked his appeal to foreign policy positions. He called for a Europe that speaks out against the war in Iran and opposed defence spending of five per cent of economic output. He also cited the rights of Palestinians and Ukraine’s right to choose its own path as concerns.
Sánchez also criticised Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the People’s Party. He called on him to accept the election result and said he was confident the Socialists would win. Sánchez said he was aiming for 75 per cent turnout on election day and an absolute majority for his party. These are campaign goals, not predictions about the outcome.
Another topic was housing policy. Sánchez accused the People’s Party and Vox of failing to support his government’s measures. On 12 November, the Permanent Deputation of the Congress of Deputies approved one of two housing decrees; the other was rejected. The People’s Party announced that it would repeal the measures adopted if it came to power.
Sánchez had announced the snap election on 5 October after housing measures failed in parliament. Also speaking at the event in Palma was Francina Armengol, President of the Congress of Deputies and the leading Socialist candidate in the Balearic Islands. She criticised the housing policy of the conservative-led regional government.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).