The Popular Party (PP) wants to drive a wedge between the PSOE and its left-wing partners. They are targeting a sensitive issue for Pedro Sánchez’s parliamentary partners: the supply of Spanish weaponry to Ukraine to defend against the Russian invasion, a decision made solely by the President of the Government, exercising his exclusive authority in foreign policy. If the PP’s initiative succeeds, any military equipment sent to a war zone like Ukraine would need to be approved by the full Congress, where it is likely to only pass if supported by the PP itself. This demand is outlined in a proposal to reform the Organic Law on National Defense, to be debated in the Senate at the PP’s suggestion. Given the PP’s majority in the Senate, it is expected to pass easily.
The PP argues in the proposal that Spain is a parliamentary democracy, and therefore the Congress of Deputies should debate and determine Spain’s position and the type of aid it should provide to its partners and allies. They emphasize that military support has geopolitical implications that require thorough analysis, and criticize the Government for avoiding debate on military missions and aid sent to war zones. The proposed law also seeks to limit the duration of military missions abroad to five years, after which the Government must request an extension, outlining achieved objectives and those still pending. Any increase in troops beyond the set limit would require approval from the Congress’s Defense Committee.
A particularly contentious issue in the proposal is the supply of weaponry and ammunition to Ukraine. The Government would need approval from the Congress before sending military material to a war zone, with the authorization being annual and requiring renewal in the appropriate parliamentary committee. Additionally, within three months of the law coming into effect, the Government must seek retroactive approval from the Congress for military supplies already committed before the law’s approval. The consequences if such authorization is denied by the Congress remain unclear.
The PP’s proposal aligns with a historical demand from left-wing forces outside the PSOE, who oppose troop deployments to conflict zones like Afghanistan or Iraq and arms supplies to countries at war like Ukraine, especially without parliamentary approval. This stance represents a departure from the PP’s traditional policy of upholding Spain’s international defense commitments, particularly with NATO. While the requirement for prior congressional approval for military missions abroad was enacted during José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s government, the PP had previously criticized him for withdrawing troops from Iraq without parliamentary consent.
Once the proposal is approved by the Senate, it will be sent to the Congress where it is likely to pass with support from parties to the left of the PSOE. The Government could potentially stall its progress in the Congress’s Board, but this would require the cooperation of Sumar, which would struggle to justify rejecting an initiative it could have endorsed. The outcome of the proposal and its potential impact on Spain’s foreign policy and military commitments remain uncertain, pending further debates and decisions in the Spanish Parliament.
