Spain's Political Polarization Reaches New Peak Under Sánchez

In Spanish politics, polarization is advancing by leaps and bounds under the leadership of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. His well-known penchant for self-admiration seems to mean that his need for critical reflection within his personal circle is no longer being satisfied. This lack of balancing voices could be considered negligible, were it not for Sánchez's apparent propensity for division. In the face of any form of criticism, often originating from the right or even the far right, the Prime Minister resorts to a confrontational defensive strategy. The societal climate of Spain is only moderately shaped by political restraint, which Sánchez knows how to use to his advantage. He capitalizes on intensifying the contrasts within the country, a principle that seems to him the surest route to maintaining power. The more Sánchez portrays his own political ideology as morally correct and uses ideologies as a clear dividing line, the more he appears to entrench himself in the political rift. In this political climate, the era of centrism is increasingly becoming a relic of the past. Spain's history has often shown that the assurance about one's own position often seems more important than an inclusive discourse. It is to be hoped that the political landscape can retain the necessary diversity to prevent further polarization.