In
theory, the Spanish electoral system is designed to introduce a consensual
system of rule. Similar to its Europe peers, compromise and dialogue lie –
again in theory – at the heart of doing politics. A disgruntled Britain has always
frowned upon such suave tactics, promoting instead the traditional ‘win it gets
it all’ type of system. A majority-one: I win, then you lose.
However, Spanish politics is not that consensual. It is not consensual at all actually. Since as democracy was restored in 1975, and the electoral system was defined, elections have persistently led to the rule of one of the two major parties. Never a consensual government composed of variations on the same left/right spectrum.
In
the last general elections held in April 2019, the representatives of the main
political parties did not even shy away from admitting this reality. The
largest parties want to rule alone. No compromise, no coalitions, and no appeasement.
Although these elections were the first
to see five parties major with national platforms competing in the election
(rather than just the two largest national parties), one major party won, and
one major party will form a government.
Three Spanish parties divided the vote on the right: the People’s Party (PP),
previously in power, suffered the biggest loss; the centre-right Ciudadanos
(Cs) gained some support; and the far-right, ultra-nationalist Vox party
appeared on the national stage for the first time. On the left, the Socialists
(PSOE) and left-wing Unidas Podemos (UP) slightly over-performed the polls,
partly propelled by the fear of the rise of a neo-Francoism embodied by Vox.
PSOE and its leader, Pedro Sanchez, were the
election’s winner in the fullest sense, gaining 38 additional seats in the
Congress of Deputies (the lower house of Parliament). PP and its young leader,
Pablo Casado, were the clear losers, having lost around half of the party’s
seats to both Vox and Ciudadanos. But does that mean that the left will reach
out to the centre and centre right out of respect to the principles of the
electoral system – one that attempts to give representation to all voices cast?
After all, a large portion of the Spanish people opted for centre and right
ideologies – albeit the subsequent fragmentation of the vote. Moreover, one can
understand why the votes on the right were fragmented, considering the
seriousness, strength, and viability of two of the parties represented on that
spectrum (Vox certainly not one of them).
Sanchez’s strategy of a Socialist-only government might see the light of day, unless the local elections in May force him to seek tacit support from some other parties to pass key legislation. Ciudadanos would have been the logical ally, but its leader has categorically refused any post-election cooperation with PSOE due to the socialists’ stance on the crisis in Cataluña.
Sanchez’s strategy of a Socialist-only government might see the light of day, unless the local elections in May force him to seek tacit support from some other parties to pass key legislation. Ciudadanos would have been the logical ally, but its leader has categorically refused any post-election cooperation with PSOE due to the socialists’ stance on the crisis in Cataluña.
Funnily enough, incremental politics is a
key feature in democracies. No matter how right or left one party is, there are
principles of politics and a common set of beliefs and practices that supposedly
protect democratic nations from erratic decisions and political manoeuvres. Even
if Ciudadanos disapproved with PSOE, many other points being them together. It
would have been nice to see politicians actually implementing the principles of
dialogue, comprise, and humility. But it would be incredibly naïve to believe
that an ideal is placed before personal interests.
