Forming a government in Spain amidst complex negotiations and a polarised political landscape poses a challenging task, with the potential for repeat elections – there is a need for vigilance, as Vox poses a severe threat to Spanish democracy, writes Laura Gaspar.
Laura Gaspar is Public Affairs Officer at the International Association for Democracy (IAD).
On 23 July, a critical election took place in Spain, with voters heading to polls to form a new national government. The People’s Party (PP) sought victory and the formation of a coalition government with the far-right party, Vox.
However, none of the parties obtained a majority, and negotiations for coalitions lie ahead. Despite the intense heat on election day, voter turnout surpassed that of 2019.
Although the most probable outcome will now finally not be a right or far-right coalition, it is essential to acknowledge that the mere possibility of a far-right party entering Spain’s national government for the first time since the country’s return to democracy after Franco’s death in 1975 has raised concerns about potential risks to Spanish democracy.
Since Franco’s death, far-right representation at the national level was unthinkable in Spain. The potential normalisation and mainstreaming of far-right rhetoric in Spain call for vigilance, given Vox’s intent to erase the rights achieved in Spain in the last years.
Despite Vox having gained 33 seats in Parliament, a decline from the 52 seats it got in the previous election, the presence of a right-wing party in the government would have carried significant implications for democracy in Spain and Europe. Vox, which emerged in 2013, pursues illiberal policies that target hard-won democratic rights in Spain, raising concerns about possible democratic backsliding.
To highlight the danger of Vox entering government, it is essential to be aware that the party is considered to belong to the category of radical right parties worldwide. Radical right parties differ from extreme right parties in that the former reject the essence of democracy while the latter accept the essence of democracy but reject elements of liberal democracy, such as minority rights, rule of law, and separation of powers.
Vox’s policies target the suppression of the Historical Memory Law, which acknowledges victims of the Spanish Civil War and condemns the repressions of the Franco regime. The party also proposes the banning of parties, associations, or NGOs linked to Catalan and Basque independence. It also aims to undo the recent developments guaranteeing equality for LBTQ+ people and the last decade´s progress for women’s rights. They seek to obstruct abortion access and repeal laws related to gender-based violence and other anti-discrimination measures.
Additionally, Vox calls for dismantling the autonomous [regions] system in Spain and aims to shut down the Ministry of Equality, which has been instrumental in promoting gender equality in Spain.
Furthermore, Vox’s recent actions in Valdemorillo, Madrid, have ignited worries about cultural attacks and political censorship. The play “Orlando”, based on Virginia Woolf’s work, was banned by the party due to its central theme of a character’s gender transition from man to woman. The theatre company asserted that this infringes upon Freedom of expression and cultural diversity.
They view it as a precise instance of ideological censorship and a failure to uphold democratic principles and the rule of law. In a functioning democracy, cultural censorship should not be tolerated; a message sent by the civil society campaign “Stop Censorship” raises awareness about the threats posed by Vox and the PP in banning cultural works they disapprove of.
The historical parallels to book burnings and Nazi “degenerate art” exhibitions are stark reminders of the imperative to safeguard freedom of expression in culture to protect and uphold democracy.
Though Vox will not be forming a government based on the last election results, the party’s presence in Spain highlights the far-right’s growing influence across Europe. Vox’s misogynistic and homophobic attitudes align with other European far-right parties with parliamentary seats like Germany’s AfD and France’s National Front.
The Spanish election climate reflects polarization, with a critical choice between democracy and autocracy. Prime Minister Sánchez drew parallels to countries with illiberal regimes, emphasizing the weight of Spain’s decision, resembling choosing leaders like Joe Biden or Donald Trump, Lula da Silva or Jair Bolsonaro.
Amidst concerns about the rise of the radical right, it is essential to acknowledge that the Freedom in the World Report ranks Spanish democracy among the most developed globally, despite facing challenges common to countries experiencing democratic backsliding, like extreme polarization and a relatively short democratic history.
As Spain awaits the formation of a new government, and in light of the challenges posed by illiberal governments in other European democracies, it is essential to acknowledge how close Spain is to losing hard-won democratic rights if a radical right party like Vox enters the government.
Forming a government in Spain amidst complex negotiations and a polarized political landscape poses a challenging task, with the potential for repeat elections. There is a need for vigilance, as Vox poses a severe threat to Spanish democracy.
The people of Spain voted against democratic backsliding in this election, which is a victory for democracy – for now.
Source: euractiv.com
