COVID-19 will likely widen Spanish-Catalan divisions

Subject

COVID-19 impact on Spanish politics.

Significance

Spain is one of the world’s worst-affected countries by COVID-19. Its economic recovery will also be slower and more disjointed than elsewhere. In order to address these unprecedented challenges, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is seeking to negotiate a cross-party agreement -- known as the Moncloa Pacts -- involving all non-extreme parties. The talks aim to create a broad political consensus over how to tackle Spain’s social and economic reconstruction, making it easier and faster to implement policy.

Impacts

• A bipartisan pact would likely boost Sanchez’s public support, given that he is the leader pushing for national cooperation.
• The existence of a pact would strengthen Sanchez’s push for the EU to share the burden of economic reconstruction.
• The EU’s failure to implement a coordinated economic plan for the reconstruction period would fuel Euroscepticism in Spain.