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Latest news on Spanish politics, covering Pedro Sánchez, PSOE, PP, Vox, Catalan independence, coalition government, corruption and the 2027 election.
Spain is governed by a fragile left-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) rules alongside Sumar and relies on the shifting support of smaller regional parties. The centre-right People's Party (PP), led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leads the opposition, while the far-right Vox party has become an increasingly potent force in both national and regional politics. The next general election must be held by August 2027, and with Sánchez repeatedly stating his intention to serve out the full term, speculation over the timing of that vote remains constant.
Sánchez's third government has been dogged by a series of corruption scandals centred on the so-called Koldo case, linking former transport minister José Luis Ábalos and PSOE organisation secretary Santos Cerdán to bribery allegations involving public contracts. Cerdán resigned from politics in June 2025 and was subsequently remanded in custody. Sánchez's wife and brother are also under judicial investigation for alleged influence-peddling. The far-right Catalan Alliance's rise in Catalonia prompted Junts, whose support had been essential to Sánchez's re-election, to withdraw from the governing coalition in October 2025. Despite this, the opposition has been unable to force a successful no-confidence motion.
The passage of the controversial Catalan amnesty law in 2024, upheld by Spain's Constitutional Court in June 2025 by a six-to-four vote, remains one of the most divisive political decisions of Sánchez's tenure. The law grants legal absolution to hundreds of individuals involved in the 2017 Catalan independence push, including politicians who organised an unlawful referendum. Supporters argue it is a necessary step towards reconciliation between Madrid and Catalonia; critics, including the PP and many jurists, contend it sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the rule of law. Spain's housing crisis and opposition to mass tourism have also intensified as domestic political pressure points, with the government proposing major public investment in affordable housing.
Spain's economy has offered Sánchez some political shelter. The country has been the fastest-growing major European economy for three consecutive years, with unemployment falling to levels not seen since 2008. Spain's progressive stance internationally, including recognition of Palestinian statehood and resistance to calls for higher military spending, has shaped its European identity. Relations with the United States grew tense over the use of joint military bases, placing Spain at the centre of a broader debate about sovereignty, European security and transatlantic alliances.
Spain's modern political landscape was shaped by the transition to democracy following the death of General Francisco Franco in 1975 and the adoption of the 1978 constitution. That constitution established a parliamentary monarchy, devolved significant powers to autonomous communities including Catalonia and the Basque Country, and created the political framework within which today's parties compete. The tension between central authority and regional identity, particularly in Catalonia, has been a defining fault line ever since. Vox, founded in 2013 and surging from the 2019 elections onwards, emerged partly as a nationalist reaction against that devolution and against perceived concessions to separatists.
The ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ feed on Spanish politics is your one-stop source for the most relevant headlines as they break, covering everything from congressional debates and regional elections to corruption probes, Catalan independence and the battle for the 2027 vote. Stay informed as Spain's complex and fast-moving political landscape continues to evolve.