Spain
Spain seeks rebellion charges against Catalans for complaining of police violence
By Alejandro López, 13 April 2019
In the Orwellian atmosphere being stoked up by the ruling class in the run up to the April 28 general election, it is the victims of police brutality that are denounced as aggressors.
Podemos could lose half its seats in Spain’s general election
By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 2 April 2019
A major reason the party’s loss of support is mass abstention, particularly among the youth, who no longer identify Podemos as a radical alternative.
Spain’s fascist Vox party enlists former generals, calls for banning Marxist parties
By Alejandro López, 25 March 2019
Vox and the army feel emboldened to hail Franco, a fascist mass murderer, because of the reactionary role of the Spanish Socialist Party and of Podemos.
Spain holds political show trial of Catalan nationalist defendants
By Alejandro López and Alex Lantier, 4 March 2019
The Catalan nationalists’ prosecution on charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds for organising the 2017 independence referendum has no substance.
Two hundred thousand protest in Barcelona against show trial of Catalan separatists
By Alejandro López, 18 February 2019
There is broad opposition, centered above all in the working class, to EU-backed attempts to establish a police state in Spain based on anti-Catalan propaganda.
Spanish government falls amid Catalan crisis
By Alejandro López, 16 February 2019
The major parties are set to run the most right-wing election campaign in Spain since the 1978 Transition to parliamentary rule, under cover of opposing Catalan separatism.
The show trial of the Catalan nationalists and the far-right danger in Spain
By Alex Lantier, 14 February 2019
In line with official politics across Europe, the ruling class in Spain is moving to build a police state and defending the legacy of 20th century fascism.
Thousands attend right-wing, anti-Catalan protest in Madrid
By Alejandro López, 11 February 2019
Spain’s right-wing parties are targeting its minority social-democratic government, backed by Podemos, that is unpopular for imposing austerity and police state rule.
Spanish Socialist Party government backs US-led coup in Venezuela
By Alejandro López, 4 February 2019
The Venezuelan coup is exposing the PSOE government and its pro-imperialist ally, the pseudo-left Podemos party.
Barcelona taxi strike called off after six days, Madrid strike continues
By Carlos Hernández, 29 January 2019
Barcelona taxi drivers voted to end their strike and accept the regional Catalan government’s decree establishing stricter regulations for vehicle-for-hire licenses.
Spain: Podemos co-founder Íñigo Errejón splits from party
By Paul Mitchell, 26 January 2019
The rise of the far-right Vox party is a devastating indictment of Errejón and the “left populism” promoted by his mentor, Belgian academic Chantal Mouffe.
Spain: Socialist Party government arrests Catalan activists
By Alejandro López, 22 January 2019
Akin to an anti-terror operation, plainclothes police wearing balaclavas swooped in on the individuals and whisked them away in unmarked cars.
Spain’s far-right Vox party backs right-wing coalition government in Andalusia
By Alejandro López, 14 January 2019
This is the first time a far-right party promoting the legacy of fascist dictator Francisco Franco helped form a government since the Francoite dictatorship fell 40 years ago.
Spain: Socialist Party government mounts a provocation in Catalonia
By Alejandro López, 21 December 2018
Sánchez is utilising the Cabinet provocation and display of force to show the ruling class that he is prepared to move against the Catalan separatists.
Unions call off general strike in Catalonia
By Carlos Hernández and Paul Mitchell, 14 December 2018
Union leaders made clear they called off the strike because of the political and social crisis that threatens the rule of the minority Socialist Party government.
Spain: Rightist parties mull government role for fascist Vox in Andalusia
By Paul Mitchell, 10 December 2018
The Spanish bourgeoisie is raising the profile of Vox, leading up to the Andalusian elections, with the country's establishment newspapers posting multiple articles—at least one a day—on the fascist party.
Hackers reveal British government’s interference in Spanish politics
By Alejandro López, 6 December 2018
Pitched as a defense of democracy against “misinformation,” the Integrity Initiative does the opposite, spreading fake news against Russia to defend the interests of the UK and its imperialist allies.
Fascist Vox party makes substantial gains in Andalusia elections
By Paul Mitchell, 4 December 2018
It is highly likely that Vox will enter government in the role of kingmaker.
Catalonia rocked by a week of strikes against austerity
By Alejandro López, 1 December 2018
For years the regional bourgeoisie has relentlessly promoted Catalan nationalism to bury the socio-economic concerns of workers and youth, both Spanish and Catalan.
Black Friday strikes hit Amazon in Europe
By our reporters, 24 November 2018
Amazon workers launched strikes and protests in Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, France and the UK.
Spain’s Socialist Party government junks “anti-austerity” budget agreed with Podemos
By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 22 November 2018
The PSOE is kept in power with the support of Podemos, Catalan, and other regional nationalist parties.
Spanish media promotes far-right VOX party
By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 6 November 2018
VOX has no mass base. According to the latest polls by the state-funded CIS, the party would poll just 1.6 percent if Spanish national elections were called now.
Catalan separatists indicted for rebellion, facing jail for up to 25 years
By Alejandro López, 5 November 2018
The trials, organised under the Socialist Party-led government, are expected to begin in early 2019.
PSOE and Podemos jointly present Spanish budget to the European Union
By Alejandro López, 24 October 2018
Faced with growing strikes, the PSOE-Podemos government, in a cynical attempt to win support, is proposing wage increases in a budget it knows will be voted down.
Calls grow in Madrid to ban Catalan nationalist parties
By Alejandro López, 11 October 2018
Banning parties that collectively receive millions of votes would mark a major escalation in the drive of the Spanish and European bourgeoisie to establish a police state.
Campaign grows inside Podemos for alliance with Spanish right
By Alejandro López, 2 October 2018
After figures in the Podemos leadership praised Italy’s far-right government, a movement for nationalism and appeals to right-wing parties is growing inside Podemos.
Dozens injured as Catalan separatists and regional police clash in Barcelona
By Alejandro López, 1 October 2018
A year after the Catalan independence referendum, none of the issues that led to the referendum crisis and the violent repression by Madrid have been resolved.
Spanish police harass, spy on Catalan separatist party
By Alejandro López, 27 September 2018
Police surveillance of the Candidatures of Popular Unity, revealed in a press conference last Thursday, is a blatant and illegal violation of basic democratic rights.
Anticapitalistas in Spain’s Podemos debate orienting to far-right Italian regime
By Alejandro López, 20 September 2018
While weakly criticising applause from Podemos of the Salvini government’s policies, the Pabloites are only concerned that it would expose them to criticism from the left.
Top Spanish pseudo-lefts hail Italian neo-fascist government
By Alejandro López, 18 September 2018
Weeks after Sahra Wagenknecht launched the anti-immigrant #Aufstehen movement, figures in Podemos are discussing alliances with right-wing forces.
Podemos proposes to “co-govern” with Spain’s Socialist Party government
By Alejandro López, 10 September 2018
Podemos is signaling to the banks that it will try to stabilize the current pro-austerity government, with which it has at most minor differences.
Podemos joins cover-up of Spanish army brass’ hailing of Franco dictatorship
By Alejandro Lopez and Alex Lantier, 1 September 2018
The concern of Podemos is to keep the exposure of the generals’ fascist sympathies from undermining the “humanitarian” pretenses of NATO imperialist wars.
Spanish Socialist Party government’s progressive veneer cracks
By Paul Mitchell, 23 August 2018
The PSOE’s programme is austerity for the working class and militarism in the service of Spain’s geo-strategic ambitions.
“I had to sell my cell phone to pay for food”
Spanish Amazon worker, fired for injury, faces prospect of homelessness
By Eric London, 13 August 2018
José Antonio Rueda Bermudez, his wife and young daughter, face homelessness due to Amazon's refusal to pay medical costs for his serious on-the-job injury.
Spanish army hails record of fascist dictator Francisco Franco
By Alejandro Lopez, 10 August 2018
A group of 181 retired Spanish army officers issued a statement hailing fascist dictator Francisco Franco for "saving" Spain during the Spanish Civil War.
Podemos backs state cover-up in Barcelona terror attack
By Alex Lantier, 9 August 2018
The pseudo-left party is demanding that the Spanish king be allowed to lead this year’s remembrance ceremony.
Spain’s conservative Popular Party shifts further to the right
By Alejandro López, 3 August 2018
Pablo Casado’s programme is a combination of ultra-Catholic demands, support for the dismantling of the welfare state and intensification of attacks on democratic rights.
Pursuit of rapper Valtònyc reveals widespread censorship in Spain
By Alejandro López, 26 July 2018
The unrelenting pursuit of rapper Josep Miquel Beltrán (stage name Valtònyc) is further evidence of the growing assault on free speech in Spain and throughout Europe.
Josep Valtònyc: “What’s happening to me could happen to anyone.”
By Alejandro López, 26 July 2018
“They put me on trial for telling true, objective facts, and that is because what is happening is scary. People are not going to be able to say what they think about those who are stealing public money from us, money taken out of our wages every month. We have the right to speak out, to criticize, to get angry.”
Spain abandons attempt to extradite Puigdemont from Germany
By Alex Lantier, 20 July 2018
Puigdemont had fled Catalonia last autumn during the brutal police crackdown launched by Madrid against the Catalan independence referendum he had organized.
Spain’s Socialist Party prepares new austerity budget, boosts military spending
By Alejandro López, 19 July 2018
The social democrats’ proposals to slow the pace of austerity reflect fear of a social rebellion by workers and youth amid a growing strike wave in Spain.
Police beat up Amazon strikers in Spain
By James Lerner and Paul Mitchell, 18 July 2018
Until the police attack, the Amazon workers and their supporters had been peacefully picketing as police escorted trucks and scabs into the warehouse.
As Jeff Bezos’ wealth reaches $150 billion
Unions strangle strike efforts by European Amazon workers on Prime Day
By Will Morrow and Genevieve Leigh, 17 July 2018
Prime Day is treated as a virtual public holiday by the corporate media, akin to Black Friday, but it is synonymous with increased exploitation for Amazon and other shipping workers.
German court authorises extradition of Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to Spain on embezzlement charges
By Alejandro López, 16 July 2018
In Spain, the newly installed minority Socialist Party (PSOE) government announced it would abide by the ruling, although it is a rebuke to the party's line in the Catalan crisis.
The “anti-fascism” of Podemos: A cover for Spain’s anti-worker Socialist Party government
By Alejandro López, 9 July 2018
Spain’s minority Socialist Party government, backed by Podemos, is announcing symbolic measures targeting Francisco Franco’s fascist regime.
An interview with Mexican documentarian Juan Francisco Urrusti, director of In Exile: A Family Film
“The world should not be closing itself in—my father’s struggle was against all walls.”
By Kevin Mitchell, 2 July 2018
The WSWS spoke recently with the director of In Exile: A Family Film, a film about the Spanish Civil War and its consequences.
Podemos meets with Catalan nationalists on behalf of Madrid
By Alejandro López, 27 June 2018
The new, Podemos-backed government Madrid is seeking to put a more “democratic” face on last year’s brutal police crackdown in Catalonia.
Podemos: Midwife of Spain’s new PSOE government
By Alejandro López, 22 June 2018
Podemos is an indispensable prop of Spain’s new PSOE government, which is pledged to impose EU austerity on workers and hike military spending.
The dissolution of ETA: A political balance sheet of Basque nationalism—Part three
By Paul Mitchell and Alejandro López, 14 June 2018
This is the concluding part of a three-part series on the Basque separatist group ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna—Basque Homeland and Freedom) announcing its dissolution.
The dissolution of ETA: A political balance sheet of Basque nationalism—Part two
By Paul Mitchell and Alejandro López, 13 June 2018
This is the second part of a three-part series on the Basque separatist group ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna—Basque Homeland and Freedom) announcing its dissolution.
The dissolution of ETA: A political balance sheet of Basque nationalism—Part one
By Paul Mitchell and Alejandro López, 12 June 2018
This is the first part of a three-part series on the Basque separatist group, ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna—Basque Homeland and Freedom), announcing its dissolution.
Spanish Socialist Party Prime Minister Sánchez appoints right-wing cabinet
By Alejandro López, 11 June 2018
The makeup of the new cabinet indicates a restructuring of bourgeois politics even further to the right.
Corruption crisis prompts demand for snap elections in Spain
By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 30 May 2018
New elections in Spain would represent the third since December 2015, all of which produced hung parliaments.
Spain: Facebook to install its “Ministry of Truth” in Barcelona
By Alejandro López, 14 May 2018
The 500 new employees in Barcelona will join Facebook’s 20,000 censors working for the company’s “security” and “moderation” departments.
Podemos calls for alliance with right-wing Citizens Party in Spain
By Paul Mitchell, 11 May 2018
Errejón insists Podemos drop its “original sin” of rejecting agreements with other parties in favour of an alliance “democratic forces” in the PSOE and Ciudadanos.
El País warns Spanish unions of their loss of control over the working class
By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 5 May 2018
Since the global capitalist crisis erupted in 2008, the CCOO and UGT have lost around 600,000 members.
Barcelona: Hundreds of thousands protest against jailing of Catalan independence leaders
By Paul Mitchell, 18 April 2018
The protest attracted considerable numbers of workers and youth who did not support secession but opposed the government’s repressive actions.
Spanish government promotes militarism in schools
By Alejandro López, 14 April 2018
The reactionary syllabus includes the need to respect the army, the police, the flag, the anthem and the King and to uphold the unity of Spain.
Spain: Mounting anger among Amazon workers exposes “victory” claims following March strike
By Alejandro López, 12 April 2018
The unions do not want to call for an indefinite strike and appeal to Amazon workers in Spain and Europe because they fear such a confrontation will win broad popular support.
Catalan nationalist Ponsatí appears in Scottish court to oppose extradition
By Steve James, 12 April 2018
The Rajoy administration’s resort to dictatorial measures is ultimately aimed at silencing all political dissent and intimidating the Spanish working class.
Swiss whistleblower Falciani arrested in Spain on order from Switzerland
By Marianne Arens, 11 April 2018
Hervé Falciani, who exposed thousands of cases of tax evasion, now faces extradition to Switzerland, in a deal that could include the extradition of two Catalonian politicians.
Spain responds to German court decision on Puigdemont with threats of stepped-up repression
By Alejandro López, 9 April 2018
The court’s decision is a setback for Madrid, which was confident Puigdemont would be returned to Spain and the possibility of 30 years in jail, with the German government’s tacit agreement.
Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont released from German prison
By Ulrich Rippert, 7 April 2018
Puigdemont may not leave Germany until further notice, had to post bail of €75,000 and must report weekly to the police.
German state prosecutor calls for extradition of former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont
By Ulrich Rippert, 4 April 2018
With this decision, the state prosecutor in Schleswig-Holstein is giving its backing to the Spanish government and adopting Madrid’s arguments.
Spanish parties unite to demand repression against Catalan nationalists
By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 4 April 2018
The Catalan crisis is being used to criminalise all political and social opposition under conditions of intensification of the class struggle.
Explosive social conditions in Spain behind moves toward police state
By Vicky Short, 3 April 2018
Behind the police-state measures being enacted in Spain lie economic, political and social tensions that are also now finding expression in a growing movement of the working class.
Spanish police attack protests demanding release of Catalonian leaders
By Paul Mitchell and Alejandro López, 30 March 2018
Demonstrations broke out throughout Catalonia after Spain’s supreme court ordered the arrest of former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont.
Spanish judiciary accuses former Catalan President Puigdemont of “mobilising the masses”
By Peter Schwarz, 30 March 2018
If the German government extradites Puigdemont to Spain, it will set a precedent for the suppression of all forms of protest and opposition.
The arrest of Catalan President Carles Puigdemont: Another step toward a police state in Europe
By Peter Schwarz, 27 March 2018
The Europe-wide police-state structures, which emerged under the pretext of combatting terrorism and cracking down on refugees, are now being deployed against political opponents.
Germany and UK collude with Spanish extradition warrants against Catalan leaders Puigdemont and Ponsatí
By Steve James and Paul Mitchell, 27 March 2018
Puigdemont is expected to be detained in Germany for two to three months before a final decision is made on his extradition to Spain.
Deposed Catalan regional premier Carles Puigdemont arrested in Germany
By Alejandro López, 26 March 2018
The decision to arrest Puigdemont in Germany, whose own criminal code punishes attempts to secede with sentences of up to life in prison, facilitates his transfer to Spain.
Spain jails Catalan secessionist leaders, issues international arrest warrants
By Alejandro López, 26 March 2018
The Spanish ruling class is intent on “beheading” the secessionist movement.
German Socialist Equality Party demands immediate release of Carles Puigdemont
By the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, 26 March 2018
The arrest of Puigdemont by the German authorities is an arbitrary judicial act characteristic of an authoritarian regime.
Spain’s Amazon workers call first ever strike at Madrid hub
By Alejandro López, 19 March 2018
For more than a year, Amazon has been negotiating with the unions to impose a new agreement that would drastically reduce workers’ rights.
Spain: Podemos support plummets after rightward lurch
By Paul Mitchell, 24 February 2018
A major factor in the decline of Podemos has been the experience of workers and middle-class people with the party in numerous town halls and city halls.
New round of attacks across Spain’s auto industry
By Alejandro López and Gabriel Labarthe, 20 February 2018
The auto industry in Spain is utilising the full conversion of plants to produce electric cars, claims of lower expectations of profits last year—combined with threats to move production offshore—to impose attacks on wages and work conditions.
Spain to double its military spending
By Alejandro López, 8 February 2018
The Spanish government is attempting to straddle the contradictions of supporting both the German-led PESCO and US-led NATO.
Spain’s Constitutional Court attempts to block Catalan premier’s investiture
By Alejandro López, 29 January 2018
The decision by the Constitutional Court means that if ousted regional premier Carles Puigdemont does not attend the swearing-in session in person, his election will be annulled.
Catalan nationalists struggle to form government
By Paul Mitchell, 25 January 2018
Spain’s Popular Party government is threatening to re-impose Article 155 and direct rule of the autonomous region by Madrid.
Direct Spanish rule to continue if exiled Catalan leader tries to govern from Belgium
By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 17 January 2018
The Spanish government is preparing to extend Article 155 of the Constitution, invoked to take control of Catalonia.
Spanish PM Rajoy seeks to prevent Catalan nationalists from forming government
By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 10 January 2018
The Supreme Court is planning to issue writs against a further 11 people linked to the deposed Catalan government for their part in organising last October’s independence referendum.
Political turmoil in Spain following Catalan election
By Paul Mitchell, 23 December 2017
Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy is under pressure from some quarters to consider negotiations, but there is no indication of a climbdown on his part.
Catalan nationalists win narrow majority in crisis elections
By Alex Lantier and Alejandro López, 22 December 2017
The result puts paid to hopes in Madrid that elections would rapidly resolve the conflict between the Spanish and Catalan regional governments.
Crisis election in Catalonia
No to dictatorship and national separatism! For the Unity of Catalan and Spanish workers!
By Alex Lantier, 21 December 2017
With today’s election, Madrid aims to provide a “democratic” veneer to the drive for police-state regimes and the rehabilitation of far-right forces across Europe.
Spanish ruling elite lays out imperialist ambitions in new National Security Strategy
By James Lerner and Alejandro López, 11 December 2017
Spain is currently involved in no fewer than 19 military operations on four continents under the aegis of one imperialist alliance or another.
Catalan election campaign begins amid Popular Party government repression
By Paul Mitchell and Chris Marsden, 6 December 2017
The common concerns of workers and youth, Spanish and Catalan, have been buried under an avalanche of divisive nationalist rhetoric.
Spain accuses Russia of interference in the Catalan crisis
By Alejandro López, 29 November 2017
In the space of just two months, El Pais has published 47 articles linking Russia to the Catalan crisis, five of which are editorials.
Leader of Barcelona terror attack was Spanish intelligence informant
By Alex Lantier, 20 November 2017
The terrorist leader was apparently an “old acquaintance” of the security forces, who protected him due to his ties to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Canada backs Spain’s crackdown on Catalan independence referendum
By Roger Jordan and Keith Jones, 18 November 2017
The Trudeau government’s support for Spain’s suppression of the Catalan independence referendum makes clear it would be ready to use similar methods to uphold the integrity of the Canadian state.
Scottish National Party backs European Union over Catalonia
By Steve James, 14 November 2017
The SNP has avoided any criticism of EU support for the brutal crackdown by the Spanish government against the Catalan national movement.
Tens of thousands protest in Catalonia against moves towards authoritarian rule in Spain
By Alex Lantier, 9 November 2017
Tens of thousands of people protested yesterday in Catalonia against the detention of Catalan nationalist politicians as political prisoners by Madrid.
Deposed Catalan premier hands himself in to Belgian police
By Alex Lantier, 6 November 2017
Criticisms of Spain’s handling of the Catalan crisis from within European ruling circles reflect concerns that Madrid’s actions could provoke explosive popular opposition.
Spanish army threatens to intervene in Catalonia as ministers are jailed
By Paul Mitchell and Alex Lantier, 3 November 2017
According to the chief of the Spanish army, his plans to intervene in Catalonia are part of similar planning by the NATO countries across Europe.
Catalan, Spanish workers face grave dangers from Madrid’s repression
By Paul Mitchell and Chris Marsden, 2 November 2017
The attempt by Madrid and the EU to impose a dictatorial regime, whether or not this is sanctioned by imposed elections, must be opposed by the entire Spanish and Catalan working class.
Catalan premier appeals to EU as opposition mounts to Madrid’s crackdown
By Alex Lantier, 1 November 2017
Puigdemont asked the EU to broker a deal between the Spanish government and the Catalan authorities based on the December 21 election imposed on Catalonia by Madrid.
EU backs Madrid’s imposition of authoritarian regime in Catalonia
By Francis Dubois, 31 October 2017
Fearing the eruption of mass struggles against austerity, the European financial oligarchy is backing the imposition of an authoritarian regime in Catalonia.
Catalan Premier Puigdemont flees to Belgium as Spain asserts direct rule over Catalonia
By Alejandro López, 30 October 2017
The Catalan nationalist parties are bitterly hostile to a political intervention in the crisis by the working class.
Spain imposes military rule in Catalonia to preempt independence bid
By Alex Lantier and Alejandro López, 28 October 2017
The Senate vote marks a historic collapse of democratic forms of rule in Western Europe and a return to authoritarianism, posing an urgent threat to the working class.
As protests mount against Madrid, Catalan parliament declares independence
By Alejandro López, 28 October 2017
The Catalan regional parliament on Friday voted a resolution for independence from Spain and the start of a “constituent process” to draft a new constitution.
Madrid's talks with Catalan premier collapse as Spain threatens military rule
By Alejandro López, 27 October 2017
Carles Puigdemont withdrew an offer to hold snap elections in Catalonia after Madrid reportedly refused to free Catalan political prisoners.
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