The increase in military spending away Sanchez from its leftist partners | Spain

Pedro Sánchez's announcement accelerate the increase in military spending It places the socialists closest to the theoretical positions of the right than to those of most of their allies. Among the latter is its governing partner, to add, that, with different nuances, according to the groups that integrate it, it shows reluctance to increase the national budget in defense until reaching 2% of GDP before 2029, as well as the other forces to the left of the PSOE.

PP and Vox are the only groups that openly advocate more resources to military arsenal. The extreme right has been excluded by the president of the round with the parties called for next Thursday. And the popular do not show great enthusiasm for closing ranks with Sánchez.

Increasing the arms budget is not an issue that arouses great citizen support. According to A European survey of the British Institute Yougovonly one in three Spaniards considers that the current expense is scarce, below the British (46%) and the French (39%), although well above the Italians (11%). The Spaniards, however, are the most favorable (53%) to send a peace force to Ukraine.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo began this Friday for demanding Sánchez a « previous and written detailed report that provides a minimum of light. » Then he complained that he dispensed « the same treatment as Bildu », by summoning the opposition leader while the other groups. And he finished offing that Sánchez calls him « out of necessity, not for conviction. »

Without clarifying whether he intends to give his support to the government, Feijóo left a couple of warnings in an act in Palma de Mallorca. He reduced in advance the expectations of his meeting with the president: « In what depends on me, national security will not be addressed in a 20 -minute procedure. » And he argued that Sánchez « does not have the necessary support to deal with the challenge » that Europe faces after the radical turn of American politics.

In the government they point out that they have margin more than enough to approve new military expenses without the need to request authorization from Congress, even with a extended budget. The law allows to modify items by agreement of the Council of Ministers. But the matter will undoubtedly cause votes in Congress, even through symbolic initiatives. And in the Council of Ministers five members of adding, a coalition that has not yet set its position, but in which hostile sectors coexist to what they consider to embark on an « arms career » have yet situated.

The hard position within adding this Friday the deputy spokesman of the parliamentary group, general secretary of the PCE and member of IU, Enrique Santiago. “Dedicate 800,000 million euros (The amount pointed out by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen) is to finance who He is threatening us, because that expense can only be faced by resorting to the United States military industry. ” Santiago said that such budget effort would compromise the resources for essential public services. And he warned that Europe « will not win militarily a war that the United States has not won in three years. »

Santiago said that the different sectors of the Sumar coalition will agree on a joint position. Group sources were confident that Sanchez will not tense the rope proposing strong increases. Sumar Movement, the platform driven around Vice President Yolanda Díaz, positioned itself with more nuances. He declared that Europe « must begin to build its own and autonomous defense, with defensive and deterrence capabilities, » so « celebrated » that the European Council « has opened that fundamental discussion. » But at the time he advocated that « instead of betting on multiplying national expenses, » it is addressed with a « new European financing » and without « falling on the back of the working class. »

Among the other leftist forces, ERC also remains expectation until they hear the president. The others made their opposition very clear. « Social spending will be cut off and will lose social policies, » said EH Bildu's deputy spokesman Oskar Matute. « It will only benefit the great powers and the arms industry. » We can even conclude the « progressive legislature » and denounced: « The government is digging its own tomb, nobody voted for that. » For the BNG, its Eurodiputada Ana Miranda riveted: « The European Commission intends to divert the money from social, economic and territorial cohesion to military spending. »

Among the executive allies for the flank to the right, the PNV seems the most likely to bet on a greater defense budget. Without anticipating their position, group sources recalled that they have always been in favor of Ukraine and that their spokesman in Congress and future leader, Aitor Esteban, already proclaimed last week against Sánchez that this « is the time of Europe. » Junts has not manifested either, while Canarian coalition warns that it will not give unconditional support. His deputy Cristina Valido emphasizes that the archipelago, by his position, understands very well the need for a strong EU before possible expansionist temptations of his neighbors, but claims Sánchez to know “how, when and how much”. « We cannot ask for a blank check without knowing what budget impact, for how long and how it can affect citizens and their most urgent needs. » CC, like UPN, claims the appearance of Sánchez as soon as possible in Congress.