Spain’s Parliament Votes Down Bid to Hold Fresh NATO Referendum
Podemos had argued that the public should be given another chance to decide on NATO membership, similar to the 1986 vote held when Spain first joined the alliance. The initiative was introduced ahead of the 40th anniversary of Spain’s NATO accession on March 12.
The motion was rejected by the ruling coalition’s senior partner, the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), as well as opposition parties including the Popular Party (PP), Vox, the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), and Junts for Catalonia, according to reports.
The junior coalition partner Sumar abstained from the vote, while the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) and the Basque alliance Bildu supported the proposal alongside Podemos.
Podemos, which has long advocated for Spain’s withdrawal from NATO and the closure of foreign military bases, argued in its proposal that public support for NATO membership is limited under current conditions. The party claimed that only 21% of Spaniards support remaining in the alliance and that younger generations are increasingly opposed, according to reports.
Podemos leader Ione Belarra also criticized several international leaders, accusing US President Donald Trump, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of promoting militarization and arms expansion policies, according to reports.
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