Podemos Party Celebrates Amnesty as a Political Strategy
On Saturday, the leaders of Spain’s far-left Podemos party marked what they consider a “victory” as they celebrated the approval of a mass amnesty for approximately 500,000 undocumented immigrants. They characterized this milestone as part of a broader plan to “replace” right-wing elements within the Spanish population.
During a campaign event in Zaragoza, Podemos Secretary-General Ione Belara and prominent MEP Irene Montero openly endorsed the immigration initiative as part of their electoral strategy. They noted that this week’s agreement with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s Socialist government to offer amnesty is just the beginning, aiming eventually for citizenship rights or legislative changes that would permit these immigrants to participate in national elections, as reported by El Mundo.
Belara likened the campaign for immigrant voting rights to the historical struggle for women’s suffrage, asserting that Spain operates under a “racist and wealth-based” voting system. She emphasized that if individuals reside in Spain, they should have the right to vote.
Although conservatives and populist critics claim that the left manipulates the government for its own goals, Montero has acknowledged this sentiment while maintaining that it’s a matter of justice to replace those whom they view unfavorably.
“I wish there was an alternative theory. I wish we could clear this country of fascists and racists, alongside immigrants and workers,” she expressed.
Moreover, Montero didn’t shy away from stating, “Of course I would like to see a replacement. I would like to see a replacement for fascists, racists, and freeloaders, as well as for working people, regardless of their skin color.”
As Montero gears up for a potential run as Podemos’ prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming 2027 general election, she acknowledged that the amnesty for undocumented immigrants is ultimately designed to get them to vote.
“We certainly want them to vote. We’ve got the documents and the regularization, and now we will either secure citizenship or modify the law to include their voting rights,” she stated.
The “Great Replacement” theory has often been dismissed by mainstream media but is rapidly gaining traction among certain leftist factions in Europe. Last month, former French presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon also embraced the term, celebrating the fact that a significant portion of the French population has foreign ancestry.
Meanwhile, Santiago Abascal, leader of the anti-mass immigration VOX Party, responded to Montero’s comments by suggesting that Prime Minister Sánchez’s agenda is concealed but fundamentally supported by Brussels. He asserted, “We’re not going to allow that.”
In contrast, Alberto Nuñez Feijó, head of the center-right People’s Party, has called on European bodies to intervene against Madrid’s amnesty initiative, arguing that it could affect the other 26 EU member states due to open borders within Schengen. However, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appeared to leave the decision to the Spanish authorities.
Critics are concerned that the proposed amnesty may result in a surge of new arrivals to Spain through family reunification or may entice more undocumented immigrants with the promise of future amnesties.
The amnesty issue is likely to play a significant role in the forthcoming 2027 elections. Current polling indicates that VOX could receive roughly 17.8% of the vote, a rise from 12.3% in 2023, while the People’s Party may see a modest decline to 32.4% from 33.1% in previous elections. The combined votes of both right-leaning parties might enable them to establish a governing coalition.
It remains uncertain whether the People’s Party would commit to reversing the amnesty if they were to win next year. Still, Feijó has expressed concerns about the potential strain on public services and the housing market, calling the ongoing regularization efforts “unacceptable political inaction.”
