Spanish left puts pressure on PM Sánchez: IU threatens to leave government over increase in defence spending

Published on 07/06/2025 - 15:43 GMT+2

While nan Spanish socialist authorities wants to summation defence spending successful statement pinch nan demands of US President Donald Trump and European allies, a 1000 demonstrators from Podemos, Izquierda Unida and Sumar protested this Saturday successful nan Spanish superior against expanding nan subject budget.

The objection has taken connected typical relevance aft nan patient informing of Izquierda Unida (IU) that they are questioning their spot successful nan conjugation government. Its parliamentary spokesman, Enrique Santiago, has been categorical successful stating that it is practically intolerable for his statement to proceed successful an executive that assumes this course. He besides urged Pedro Sánchez to guidelines patient successful nan look of unit from NATO, contempt nan reproaches he whitethorn receive, recalling that IU, of which curate Sira Rego is simply a member, firmly rejects nan summation successful defence spending.

Sumar's beingness astatine Saturday's protestation was undoubtedly nan astir striking. The soul statement wrong nan electoral conjugation has erstwhile again intensified successful nan run-up to nan NATO acme successful The Hague astatine nan extremity of June, wherever allied countries are expected to make a caller committedness to allocate up to 5% of GDP to defence, up from nan existent 2%. Labour curate and leader of nan left-wing coalition, Yolanda Díaz, has agelong distanced herself from Sánchez's position, though without breaking nan unity of nan government.

It is simply a 'betrayal' of progressive principles, according to Montero.

Podemos has besides publically denounced nan summation successful defence spending approved by nan government, saying it is simply a "betrayal" of progressive principles and a nonstop alignment pinch nan strategical interests of nan United States and NATO.

MEP Irene Montero warned connected Saturday that, by prioritising rearmament, nan cardinal authorities is laying nan foundations for early cuts successful societal policies, particularly affecting nationalist acquisition and programmes specified arsenic nan Co-Responsibles Plan, aimed astatine improving family reconciliation.

According to a study by nan Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS), published successful March, 75% of Spaniards are really successful favour of expanding subject spending, particularly aft Donald Trump's re-election.