Jul 15, 2026 · 29 min · 13 segments
For many observers across Europe, Spain has become a rare success story – offering hope that progressive politics can still succeed, govern, and project confidence on the world stage. But the reality…
Elsa ArnaizGuest
Emma du ChatinierHost
Uh, for some, in the case of NATO, Spain has decided that we're not gonna, um, spend the 5% that Trump is, uh, urging everyone to spend, but that we are co- gonna commit with the, with the compromises that we had, that is, like, to continue, you know, investing in defense, but that we're just not gonna be this, uh, let's say, we're gonna surrender to what Trump is saying.
Also, for example, in the case, um, [clears throat] of the ecological transition in Spain during, uh, um...
Well, it's still continuing, but the very first, um, let's say, years of the Ukrainian war, when we had this huge crisis related to Russian gas, uh, and now with the oil in Iran, uh, we have been one of the leaders, uh, here with clean energy and with cheap energy because we have been investing a lot in renewable energies.
And in general, I feel like Spain, at the European level, has a lot of influence.
We have several vice presidents of the European Parliament that are Spanish, some from the progressives, some from the conservative party.
And also, we have, um, at the Social and Democrats, but also at the European People's Party, so the two main political, uh, families at the European level, both are led by Spanish women.
Uh, right now we are, um, let's say, like, you know, the rock stars of European, uh, politics [chuckles] in some terms.
The issue is that, uh, all these things, while they're amazing and great, um, they are not fixing the crisis that we have internally.
And in general, it just feels like the image that the world has of Spain, uh, is a great image, but internally, the living conditions are not as good.
Uh, for some, in the case of NATO, Spain has decided that we're not gonna, um, spend the 5% that Trump is, uh, urging everyone to spend, but that we are co- gonna commit with the, with the compromises that we had, that is, like, to continue, you know, investing in defense, but that we're just not gonna be this, uh, let's say, we're gonna surrender to what Trump is saying.
Also, for example, in the case, um, [clears throat] of the ecological transition in Spain during, uh, um...
Well, it's still continuing, but the very first, um, let's say, years of the Ukrainian war, when we had this huge crisis related to Russian gas, uh, and now with the oil in Iran, uh, we have been one of the leaders, uh, here with clean energy and with cheap energy because we have been investing a lot in renewable energies.
And in general, I feel like Spain, at the European level, has a lot of influence.
We have several vice presidents of the European Parliament that are Spanish, some from the progressives, some from the conservative party.
And also, we have, um, at the Social and Democrats, but also at the European People's Party, so the two main political, uh, families at the European level, both are led by Spanish women.
Uh, right now we are, um, let's say, like, you know, the rock stars of European, uh, politics [chuckles] in some terms.
The issue is that, uh, all these things, while they're amazing and great, um, they are not fixing the crisis that we have internally.
And in general, it just feels like the image that the world has of Spain, uh, is a great image, but internally, the living conditions are not as good.
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