Spain’s messy election demonstrates Europe’s rightward shift

WHILE the centre-left Labour Party is in the ascendancy in the post-Brexit United Kingdom, Spain’s election on Sunday (Jul 23) shows how the political centre of gravity in the European Union (EU) has been moving significantly rightwards.

In what may prove to be Europe’s most important election of 2023, the conservative People’s Party (PP) won the most seats, but will need to rely on smaller parties – potentially including the far-right Vox – to form a new government. The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), which led the previous government, had the second-highest share.

The ballot is the latest in an apparent conservative revival seen in the last year across other EU nations, including Sweden, Finland and Italy, with possible policy implications from immigration to green issues.