The widely expected victory of the center-right People’s Party in Spain’s next presidential elections is drawing growing attention to statements by party officials that they plan to change this country’s foreign policy, and become much more critical of Cuba, Venezuela and other authoritarian regimes.
If that happens, it would make a big difference in the Latin America diplomatic arena. Despite its economic crisis, Spain is a major investor in Latin America, and a leader on Latin American initiatives within the 27-country European Union. But will the PP win, and will it change Spain’s foreign policy? Let’s look at the facts. A June 5 poll by the daily El País shows that PP leader Mariano Rajoy’s party leads by a record 14 percent in voters’ preferences over its nearest rival. In the May municipal elections, the PP won by nearly 8 percent of the vote.
On a week-long visit here, I’ve found the country as beautiful as ever — Madrid’s streets are clean, and sidewalk cafes are teeming with patrons until the wee hours — despite the economic crisis that has resulted in 20 percent unemployment. But in conversations with friends across the political spectrum, widespread disenchantment with the current government of Socialist Party leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is evident. Few doubt that Rajoy will be Spain’s next prime minister.
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