The mediated country | European elections 2024 | News

The acrimony of the national political climate has had a certain mobilizing effect in the European elections. Almost half of the census – 49.21% – went to the polls, the best figure in continental elections that did not coincide with municipal or regional elections since 1989, when Spain was still under the euphoria of its recent entry into the club. Even so, far from the usual participation in any other type of elections.

Measured in plebiscitary terms, the right has obtained a slight victory. The four parties in that space – PP, Vox, Se Acabó la Fiesta and Ciudadanos – add up to 8.5 million votes, 49.08% of the total, almost two points and 330,000 more than those gathered by the block of parties that supported the investiture of Pedro Sánchez. The opposition may say that it has managed to prevail over the Government, but the data will hardly support its thesis that there is a clamorous popular demand for Sánchez to leave La Moncloa.

In the progressive camp, everything points to a certain regrouping of forces in the PSOE and the worsening of the crisis in the space to its left. Sumar has collected a new setback, falling below 5%, with fewer votes than the joint candidacy of the peripheral nationalist left and almost tied with the ultra-conspiracy Alvise Pérez. Podemos can boast of having achieved representation in Strasbourg, but its 3.28% would most likely lead them to extra-parliamentarism in the event of a general election. On the contrary, a third space is opening up on the right, although it remains to be seen if it is consolidated when calls arrive in which voters have shown themselves less willing to venture with exotic options.

In the eternal dispute that Spanish politics is experiencing – Sánchez yes, Sánchez no – few new developments can be expected. Neither the Government has been knocked out nor has Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s alternative been proven unviable. What does seem clear is that the country is strongly divided into two halves, not necessarily right-left – the territorial factor is decisive – and that any small movement can make it lean to one side or the other. In July, towards Sánchez. This Sunday, towards those who fight it.

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