How Pedro Sánchez Rose to Become Spain’s Prime Minister

The 52-year-old leader, who has served as prime minister since 2018 and chairs the Socialist International since November 2022, has built his political career on compromise deals with separatist movements and migration policies that critics say prioritize foreign nationals over Spanish citizens.

Political Career Built on Second Chances

Pedro Sánchez was born in Madrid in 1972 into a family steeped in socialist politics. His father led the National Institute for Performing Arts and Music under the socialist government of Felipe González and was a member of the PSOE, Spain’s socialist party. The younger Sánchez joined the party at age 21.

After studying business administration at Madrid’s Complutense University, where he played basketball thanks to his 1.90-meter height, Sánchez completed a master’s degree in political economy at the Free University of Brussels. He earned his doctorate in 2012 from Camilo José Cela University with a dissertation on Spanish economic diplomacy.

His political ascent was marked by a pattern of initially failing to win seats, then entering through the back door as a replacement candidate. This happened in Madrid’s municipal council in 2004, in the national parliament in 2009, and again in 2013. By 2014, he had secured the influential position of party general secretary.

Controversial Deals with Catalan Separatists

Without a parliamentary majority since taking power, Sánchez has relied on support from regional separatist parties, particularly Catalan independence advocates. In December 2022, his government pushed through legislation abolishing the criminal offense of sedition and replacing it with the lesser charge of disturbing public order, as Junge Freiheit reports.

The move was widely seen as a quid pro quo for Catalan support. Conservative opposition parties PP and the national-conservative Vox accused Sánchez of sacrificing the rule of law for political survival. The controversy stems from Catalonia’s 2017 independence referendum, which Spain’s Constitutional Court had declared unconstitutional. Despite only 43 percent turnout, 90 percent of participants voted for independence, leading to prison sentences for several Catalan politicians.

Mass Legalization of Illegal Migrants

Pressured by his coalition partner Sumar, a left-populist alliance, Sánchez has pursued what critics describe as an excessively permissive migration policy. His government offered illegal immigrants the opportunity to legalize their status and gain access to all state social services.

Approximately 550,000 migrants, predominantly from South America, have submitted applications under this program. The policy has strained Spain’s healthcare system and housing market, contributing to growing discontent among Spanish citizens who feel their government prioritizes foreign nationals over their own welfare needs.

Rising Opposition from National Conservatives

The backlash has fueled support for Vox, Spain’s answer to Germany’s AfD, which campaigns on a platform of “prioridad nacional” or national preference. The party has positioned itself as the spearhead of conservative opposition to what it characterizes as policies of national displacement.

Many Spaniards have grown weary of policies that appear to work against their fundamental interests, particularly in healthcare and housing. The socialist approach, critics argue, values impoverished immigrants from distant regions over middle-class citizens of their own nation.

Corruption Scandals Mount

Beyond his controversial parliamentary coalition-building and migration policies, Sánchez now faces serious corruption allegations involving ministers and high-ranking officials within his socialist party, according to Junge Freiheit.

Known in Spain as “el guapo” (the handsome one), Sánchez has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to land on his feet politically. However, the accumulation of scandals, unpopular policies, and deals with separatists suggests his political luck may finally be running out.

The prime minister remains chairman of the Socialist International, occasionally leading supporters in singing the organization’s anthem with its revolutionary lyrics calling on the “damned of the earth” to rise up. But his transformation of Spain from a dependable Western partner into what critics see as an unreliable actor pursuing ideological goals at the expense of national interest has left the country politically divided and its future direction uncertain.

With information from Junge Freiheit