by christina thykjaer & Spanish Euroneu
It’s published
The Spanish socialist government wants to increase defensive spending in line with the demands of US President Donald Trump and his European allies, but 1,000 demonstrators from Podemos, Izquierda Unida and Sumar protesters this Saturday in the Spanish capital.
The demonstration took a special connection after warning Izkierda Unida (IU) that they were questioning their location in the Union government. Congress spokesman Enrique Santiago said his party would be virtually impossible to continue with the executives envisaging the course. He also urged Pedro Sanchez to stand firm in the face of pressure from NATO despite all the accusations he might receive, recalling that Minister Sila Lego’s member, IU, firmly refused to increase defensive spending.
Sumar’s presence at Saturday’s protest was undoubtedly the most impressive. Internal debates within the election coalition have once again been strengthened in preparation for the NATO summit in The Hague at the end of June. Allies are expected to make a new commitment to allocate up to 5% of their GDP to defense, starting from the current 2%. Yolanda Diaz, the Minister of Labor and Left Union leader, has long distanced himself from Sanchez’s position without breaking the unity of the government.
According to Montero, it is the “betrayal” of progressive principles.
Podemos also publicly condemned the increase in defence spending approved by the government, saying it was a “betrayal” of progressive principles and a direct alignment with the strategic interests of the United States and NATO.
MEP Irene Montero warned on Saturday that by prioritizing re-contracts, the central government is laying the foundation for future cuts in social policy.
A survey by Centro De Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) published in March shows that 75% of Spaniards are in fact in favor of an increase in military spending, particularly after Donald Trump’s reelection.
