Ahead of Spain’s Parliamentary election eleven political formations have agreed a joint set of principles for the Energy policy signed. According to the initiating foundation, Fundación Renovables, the signatories include the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, the Frente Amplio alliance and the left-wing party Podemos. The agreement was reached in Madrid on 12 November.
The foundation aims to establish a long-term basis for the energy transition The set of principles contains ten points, including the expansion of renewable energy, greater energy efficiency and the modernisation of the electricity grids. Other aims, according to the foundation, include lower electricity prices, tackling energy poverty and the electrification of transport and industry. Building renovation and the development of rural regions are also mentioned.
The parliamentary election will take place on 29 November. Both chambers of the Spanish parliament will be elected. The official election campaign began on 13 November and ends on 27 November. The signatories’ influence on energy policy after the election will depend on the result and the subsequent formation of a government.
The foundation says it sent the set of principles to all parties standing in the election. The conservative People’s Party and the right-wing party Vox did not respond to its request for support, it said on 12 November. This does not in itself mean that they rejected the set of principles.
The signing showed that the energy transition remains contentious despite the joint declaration. According to the foundation, Juantxo López de Uralde of Alianza Verde criticised a setback during the previous parliamentary term and called for greater efforts. The Socialist representative Marc Pons, it said, reaffirmed the aim of closing Spain’s nuclear power plants by 2035. These statements describe the positions of those involved, not newly adopted legislation.
The future of energy policy is also being discussed outside the parties. Greenpeace called for a green social contract after the election was announced in October, which should include, among other things, affordable renewable energy and accessible public transport. Spain’s Chamber of Commerce points in its election proposals to the growing need for grids, storage and components for renewable technologies. It recommends systematically examining possible dependencies on foreign suppliers.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).