Spain seemed to become Spain again, writes the Irish journalist Brendan Boyle on the past year. However, the longed-for return of holidays and vacations has been thwarted by Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine.
Inflation has rapidly risen to record levels, making food and energy unaffordable for many. This has been made clear by massive protests from the transport sector, which have left supermarkets with empty shelves. Inflation is now declining, partly due to substantial government support measures. According to the latest data, Spanish inflation is 5.8 percent, while the highest point in 38 years was reached in July: 10.8 percent.
Inflation, energy and consumer confidence will be the deciding factors in a year full of political events. According to polls, the incumbent prime minister still has a slight lead, but the real appreciation for Pedro Sánchez is not found in Spain, but in Brussels. The question is to what extent he can use it for the next election.
Regional and national
The first test for Sánchez will be in May during the regional elections, both for the city council and for the autonomous regions that make up Spain. Here the focus will be mainly on the capital, Madrid has been ruled since the mid-1990s by the right-wing popular party PP, which now feels the hot breath of Más Madrid on its neck.
If the growing polarization of politics doesn’t make itself felt before these regional elections, it will during the national elections later this year. In principle, this is planned for December 10, but it could possibly happen earlier.
Latest polls show that the ruling left-wing PSOE party’s lead over the opposition is narrowing slightly, while far-right Vox appears to be growing after a long period of declining popularity. The largest opposition party, the PP, led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, seems to have made headway.
Vox was founded in 2013 and has since experienced significant growth under the leadership of Santiago Abascal, mainly due to their tough anti-immigration stance and their nationalist ideology. Under Abascal, known for his controversial remarks and anti-immigration stances, the party won a few seats in the Spanish parliament.
President of the European Union
National elections coincide with the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. On 1 July, the Spanish will take over from Sweden, which will take over the EU presidency from the Czech Republic from 1 January 2023. One of Spain’s priorities is to restore economic and political ties with South America. Furthermore, Spain wants to play a leading role in the European energy transition.
Especially in the field of green hydrogen, Spain thinks it can take on a pioneering role. That different parties also see opportunities here is evident from container giant Maersk’s recent announcement to partner with Spain in the field of sustainable fuels for shipping. An example of this is also the announced construction of a gas pipeline between Spain and France, intended for the transport of hydrogen.
Volvo Ocean Race
The start of the Volvo Ocean Race will be the first opportunity for Spain in 2023 to stand on an international podium. The round-the-world regatta will begin on Sunday 15 January in Alicante, arriving on 1 July in Genoa, Italy. The Volvo Ocean Race is in The Hague in June.