Spain
Madrid steps up repression of protests against Catalan crackdown
By Alejandro López, 22 October 2019
The ruling class is terrified that protests will erupt across Spain and beyond, linking the defence of democratic rights to the growing upsurge of working class struggles.
Draconian verdict against Catalan politicians exposes bankruptcy of Podemos
By Alejandro López, 21 October 2019
This crisis is giving workers and youth internationally yet another bitter lesson in the reactionary role of affluent middle class, “post-Marxist” populist parties.
General strike paralyzes Catalonia as over half-a-million demonstrate in Barcelona
By Alejandro López, 19 October 2019
Broad sections of youth and workers mobilized to protest the police state that is emerging in Spain, and more broadly across Europe.
The jailing of Catalan nationalists: Spanish government builds a police state
By Alex Lantier, 17 October 2019
The Spanish Supreme Court’s sentencing Monday of a dozen Catalan nationalists to a decade in prison for sedition is a politically illegitimate ruling that will live in infamy.
Spanish police attack mass protests against prison terms for Catalan nationalists
By Alejandro López and Alex Lantier, 15 October 2019
The ruling against defendants involved in the 2017 Catalan independence referendum is the outcome of a show trial and part of the Spanish ruling class’s drive toward dictatorship.
Ahead of ruling in Catalan show trials
Catalan nationalists, Spanish unions and pseudo-left demobilize opposition
By Alejandro López, 12 October 2019
The Catalan bourgeois nationalists are terrified of growing opposition in the working class to the austerity and police-state policies of the Spanish ruling class. Jordi Sànchez,
Spanish Supreme Court approves exhumation of fascist dictator Francisco Franco
By Alejandro López, 11 October 2019
Despite the legitimate hatred that millions of workers feel for Franco, the fascist dictator and mass murderer, the exhumation ruling is a dangerous political fraud.
Madrid launches “anti-terror” crackdown in Catalonia
By Alejandro López, 26 September 2019
Spain’s Civil Guards have launched a widely publicized “anti-terror” police operation against Catalan nationalist activists, code-named “Operation Judes.”
Podemos backs Madrid’s plans for repression against Catalonia
By Alejandro Lopez, 24 September 2019
Last Friday, Podemos General Secretary Pablo Iglesias announced his party would back repressive measures against Catalonia if it were part of a Socialist Party-led government
Election set for November 10 as attempts to form Spanish government collapse
By Alejandro López, 19 September 2019
King Felipe VI declared that social-democratic Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had failed to secure enough support to be confirmed as premier.
Scandal erupts over Público exposure of state complicity in Barcelona attack
Part III: The class issues posed by state foreknowledge of Islamist attacks
By Alejandro López, 12 September 2019
Revelations of state foreknowledge of the terror attack in Barcelona point to the premeditated, counterrevolutionary class policy pursued by the financial aristocracy.
Scandal erupts over Público exposure of state complicity in Barcelona attack
Part II: The Barcelona daily La Vanguardia tries to discredit Público
By Alejandro López, 11 September 2019
The spearhead of the ruling elite’s counterattack on the Público exposure was a series of one-sided and provocative articles in La Vanguardia.
Scandal erupts over Público exposure of state complicity in Barcelona attack
Part I: Podemos and the Catalan nationalists cover for Spanish intelligence
By Alejandro López, 10 September 2019
The exposure of NATO intelligence agencies’ complicity in Islamist networks’ August 2017 terrorist attack in Barcelona has provoked a deep political crisis in Spain.
Strike wave paralyses transport system in Spain
By Alejandro López, 4 September 2019
There is deep, growing anger among workers over the massive growth of social inequality and worsening working conditions.
Spanish petty-bourgeois groups call on Podemos to install social-democratic government
By Alejandro López, 6 August 2019
Their call to back the PSOE from outside government is a cynical ploy to avoid taking responsibility for the right-wing policies of the PSOE regime they are supporting.
Social democrats fail to win Podemos support to form Spanish government
By Alejandro López and Alex Lantier, 29 July 2019
Podemos took a calculated decision not to enter government with the PSOE, fearing rising opposition on its left in the working class in Spain and internationally.
Podemos, Catalan nationalists cover up role of intelligence in Barcelona attack
By Alejandro López, 22 July 2019
The reactionary forces promoted in the bourgeois media as the “left” in Spain are downplaying or ignoring Spanish intelligence’s complicity in the 2017 attacks.
Outrage grows at Spanish media silence on state complicity in Barcelona attack
By Alejandro López, 22 July 2019
Readers are writing in to denounce the silence at explosive revelations of intelligence complicity in the 2017 Barcelona attacks in the online daily Público.
Publico reports Spanish intelligence facilitated 2017 Barcelona terror attack
By Alex Lantier, 20 July 2019
The report is prima facie evidence of criminal behavior by the Spanish state, abetted by other NATO powers, to create the climate to build a fascistic police-state regime.
Podemos calls internal vote to enter PSOE-led Spanish government
By Alejandro López, 15 July 2019
Aware that its falling electoral support reflects growing social opposition to the entire political establishment, Podemos is seeking to obtain as many posts as possible.
UN calls on Spain to free jailed Catalan nationalist politicians
By Alejandro López, 12 July 2019
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for the “immediate release” of Catalan nationalist political prisoners held in a show trial in Madrid.
Madrid threatens migrant rescue ship with massive fines
By Alejandro López, 6 July 2019
Spain’s social-democratic government has warned it will impose hundreds of thousands of euros in fines on vessels for rescuing refugees in the Mediterranean.
Spain’s University of Alicante censors scholarly articles on fascist repression
By Alejandro López, 27 June 2019
Amid the growing promotion of far-right politics by the Spanish ruling elite, this decision opens the door to attempts to revise the bloody history of Spanish fascism.
Spain’s Supreme Court endorses 1936 fascist coup
By Alejandro López, 17 June 2019
If Franco is rehabilitated, it is because powerful factions of the ruling class are considering another break with legality and democratic forms of rule, in order to defend their wealth.
After EU election, Podemos backs Spanish social democrats’ repressive policy
By Alejandro López, 3 June 2019
Podemos aims to join Spain’s social democratic government, which is preparing draconian attacks on social programs and new measures against Catalan political prisoners.
The European elections and the resurgence of the class struggle
By Alex Lantier, 30 May 2019
The EU elections revealed the deep discrediting of the political establishment and its imperviousness to growing demands from the working class for political change.
Podemos collapses in European, regional and municipal elections in Spain
By Alejandro López, 28 May 2019
A major factor in the decline of Podemos has been the experience of workers and middle-class people with this party as it ran numerous town and city halls.
Banks and multinationals announce mass layoffs in Spain
By Alejandro López, 22 May 2019
The ability of companies to impose redundancies is dependent on the collaboration of Spanish unions.
Spain’s ruling elite mourns former Socialist Party leader Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba
By Alejandro López, 17 May 2019
The bourgeoisie hailed Rubalcaba because his defence of austerity and violent repression epitomize what it sees as desirable in a ruler.
Spain: No “red lines” in talks for a Socialist Party-Podemos coalition government
By Alejandro López, 11 May 2019
Iglesias stressed that during their parliamentary collaboration, both parties were able “to build a relationship of trust” and dealt with each other “with frankness and empathy.”
After Spanish elections, Podemos pushes for pro-austerity PSOE government
By Alejandro Lopez and Alex Lantier, 3 May 2019
Even as the PSOE’s police-state and austerity policies fuel the far right’s rise, Podemos is asking to join a PSOE government and defending it from criticism on its left.
Fascistic Vox party enters parliament in Spain elections, as social democrats gain
By Alex Lantier, 29 April 2019
Heavy voter turnout reflected, at least in part, significant numbers of people trying to cast a vote to prevent the far right from coming to power.
The Spanish elections and the struggle against authoritarian rule
By the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, Socialist Equality Party and Parti de l’égalité socialiste, 27 April 2019
A struggle against capitalist reaction can only proceed through the building of a new revolutionary leadership in the Spanish and international working class.
International finance backs Socialist Party in Spain’s April 28 elections
By Alejandro López, 26 April 2019
European Union sources are warning of prolonged political instability and looking to the PSOE and Podemos for an answer.
Spain: Podemos manifesto defends constitution, urges coalition with Socialist Party
By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 22 April 2019
The concessions hailed by Podemos were included in the 1978 Constitution to legitimise the filthy compromise between the PSOE and the Communist Party (PCE) with the Francoites, to “forgive and forget” the crimes of fascism.
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.
Follow the WSWS