The European Union will not be coming to save Spain from the “tyranny” of Socialist Party (PSOE) Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, a senior MEP has warned.
Jorge Buxadé, the lead MEP for the Spanish VOX party’s European Parliament delegation, told Brussels Signal that the left-wing leader should be considered “the worst prime minister in Spanish history”.
Buxadé cited Sánchez’s controversial rule of law as the reason for such a claim, repeating common VOX claims that the PM has been trying to undermine core pillars of Spanish democracy.
“There have been threats against freedom of the press, against journalists, against the political opposition and against judges,” the MEP claimed, adding that such fundamental violations would – “in any healthy nation” – have already seen Sánchez removed from power.
When asked about whether the European Union or its Member States would be willing to step in regarding the various controversies currently plaguing Sánchez, Buxadé expressed scepticism.
The VOX representative said he had tried to get the European Commission interested in what was allegedly happening in Spain, writing directly to then-Rule of Law Commissioner Didier Reynders about Sánchez’s various infringements.
Such efforts, he added, had not yet amounted to anything.
“Unfortunately, there are still some who believe that Brussels is going to save us,” he said.
“It won’t.”
EXC: "The best thing is for him to go!"@Vox_es leader @Santi_ABASCAL tells Brussels Signal that Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez has been irresponsible and is putting his country in a position of uncertainty by considering his future.#PedroSanchez #BegonaGomez #Vox #SoloQuedaVox pic.twitter.com/dlCwO9vrgA
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) April 25, 2024
Buxadé’s comments come amid ratcheting tensions in Spain over alleged corruption surrounding the country’s Prime Minister.
Sánchez has reacted angrily to the claims, asserting they are being maliciously spread by “fake news” media outlets on the Right.
He has now vowed to implement legal crackdowns against such entities.
“A mud of toxic, unimaginable practices has colonised politics and public life,” he said late in April.
“Confusing freedom of expression with freedom of defamation is a democratic perversion with devastating consequences.”
He went on to vow that, with the crackdown, he and his Government would “show the world” how Spain “defends democracy”.
EXC: Spanish MEP @HermannTertsch tells our reporter @Peter_Caddle that PM Pedro Sánchez is "blackmailing" the country but doesn't think he will resign, at least not yet… Have a listen! ⬇️ #CPACHungary2024 pic.twitter.com/vdiCYF06AN
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) April 26, 2024
Additional reporting by Peter Caddle.
