Pedro Sánchez might be the Prime Minister of Spain, but this week, he looked more like a political punching bag. On one side, Alberto Núñez Feijóo’s Popular Party (PP) is railing against his debt forgiveness plan for Catalonia, accusing him of fiscal irresponsibility and political pandering. On the other, Ione Belarra’s Podemos is slamming him for military spending and his handling of the Gaza conflict.
Sánchez isn’t just fending off attacks from within Spain—he’s also found himself in clashes with Donald Trump over defense spending, Gaza, and Ukraine. The Spanish leader has spent the past few weeks defending his policies against criticism from both his own coalition partners and the conservative opposition, all while navigating diplomatic tensions on the global stage.
Debt Forgiveness: Feijóo’s Fury
The most immediate firestorm is over Sánchez’s plan to forgive €83 billion (approx. $90 billion USD) in regional debt, a move that directly benefits Catalonia. Feijóo wasted no time branding it a “bribe” to separatists, accusing Sánchez of using Spanish taxpayers to secure political alliances. “The condemnation is you,” Feijóo shot at Sánchez in a heated exchange, likening his policies to a desperate bid to keep his fragile coalition afloat.
Military Spending and Gaza: The Left Strikes Back
If Feijóo is hammering Sánchez from the right, Belarra is hitting him from the left with equal force. The Podemos leader accused him of being complicit in a “genocide” by allowing arms shipments from Zaragoza to Israel and ramping up defense spending at the behest of NATO. “Your government is weak,” she declared, warning that his actions could pave the way for a far-right takeover of Spain.
Sánchez attempted to deflect by touting his social policies, reminding critics of his housing initiatives, minimum wage hikes, and banking taxes. But the response rang hollow to those on the left, who expected a more staunchly anti-military stance from a socialist-led government.
Clashing with Trump: Defense Spending and Foreign Policy
While Sánchez battles domestic fires, he’s also locking horns with Trump, who criticized Spain for failing to meet NATO’s 2% defense spending target. In response, Sánchez fired back, pointing out that Spain has increased its military budget by 70% over the past decade and remains the 10th largest contributor to NATO. But with Trump pushing for a 5% defense spending target, Madrid’s reluctance to spend more may soon put Sánchez at odds with key European allies as well.
Trump isn’t the only international leader Sánchez is feuding with. The Spanish PM publicly condemned Trump’s proposal to expel Palestinians from Gaza, calling it “immoral and contrary to international law”. This aligns with Sánchez’s broader pro-Palestinian stance, which saw Spain recognize Palestinian statehood alongside Ireland and Norway in 2024—a move that infuriated Israel.
Ukraine: More Spending, More Scrutiny
Sánchez’s latest commitment to send over €1 billion (approx. $1.04 billion USD) in military aid to Ukraine in 2025 has also drawn fire. While European allies praise the move, critics within Spain—especially on the left—see it as further evidence that Sánchez is prioritizing foreign military aid over domestic economic struggles.
Can Sánchez Hold the Line?
Pedro Sánchez has survived plenty of political battles before, but this time, he’s taking hits from all sides. The right sees him as weak on fiscal responsibility, the left sees him as weak on foreign policy, and Trump sees him as weak on defense spending.
With economic tensions rising, coalition fractures deepening, and global conflicts testing his leadership, Sánchez will need to pull off another political escape act if he wants to maintain control. The question is—how long can he keep dodging the blows?
Disclaimer:
This article is an opinion piece based on available information, reporting, and political statements. It reflects an analysis of current events and does not claim to provide an exhaustive or definitive account.
