It's still is the main issue of debate though. In fact, the rise in euroscepticism (which is still much lower than in other countries) has more to do with the failed deportation of the separatist fugitives than immigration issues.

Immigration has however become a hotter topic in rural areas, where illegal labour force in mining and agriculture is reducing job opportunities for spaniards (this is why VOX gets good results in Andalucía, where Gibraltar is also a relevant issue btw and the regional elections coincided with Spain negotiating that aspect of brexit, and will likely also get good results in other regions like Murcia, Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha). Aside from Ceuta and Melilla, it's not really a matter of integration or security, but rather about work and economy.

So basically, in urban areas it's mostly about anti-separatism and anti-feminism. But in rural areas it's also about anti-immigration and deregulating hunting, fishing and agriculture.

This post was edited by zarkadon on Mar 30 2019 09:54am

pandering to identity politics called out

and for good reason, i mean the spanish employment market and the crazy unemployment rates are already bad enough
when on top of that many opportunities are given to illegal migrants the people are right to be angry

there were days when corporations were proud to pay citizens decent wages instead of using lobbyism to flood the country with cheap labour slaves

My prediction for indicative votes tonight -
Common Market 2.0 receives the most support, possibly even passes.
A referendum on the final deal has the second highest support. Doubtful it will pass.
The motion to give unilateral control over termination of the backstop to the UK is difficult to predict. It will likely fail because it's a stupid motion - the EU would never agree to it. But a lot of MPs want it.
Motion F - a public vote to prevent no deal - may pass and will certainly garner some support. Most of parliament wants to avoid no deal but I don't know how many would be willing to put 'no deal vs remain' on a ballot.

Also at 4:30PM the ministers will debate the petition that has received over 6 million signatures (~10% of the UK population) to repeal article 50. The govt says this option is not on the table so it will likely be dismissed and no motion put forward. Cynical I know

Oh and parliament continues it's rebellion against the executive so I cautiously predict motion G for Parliamentary supremacy will pass.

Gen election on the cards too... depending on the results today.

But it's still interesting how they rather vote a ultra liberal party that advocates for budget and welfare cuts, deregulation of worker conditions, privatization of public health, education and transport, etc; than a party more orientated towards social democracy. I mean, rural workers aren't exactly one-percenters.

Even if a strict migration policy reduced the competition for jobs, I would say that the cons still outweigh the pros for working class citizens. It would make more sense to me if VOX was an interventionist party like the Front National in France, but they are basically voting for a party that is economically in line with the tories in the UK. But just the idea of getting rid of the competition the illegal immigrants bring seems to be enough for many. Plus the fact that anti-separatist sentiment is especially strong in those regions of Spain, and that of course helps the party with the most radical anti-separatist ideas.

Rejection of illegal immigration is an issue that goes beyond economic considerations. And most social democrats or, more generally speaking, "leftist" parties are on the mass migration bandwagon. Them being soft on separatists to top it off is the nail in the coffin.

This post was edited by Black XistenZ on Apr 1 2019 10:44am

Meanwhile, in Slovakia:

I would've discussed it yesterday, but I wasn't home. Zuzana Čaputová from the centrist / centre- left party Progressive Slovakia (part of ALDE), has become the new president of the country, after beating the conservative candidate Maroš Šefčovič (who ran as independent) in the second round of the presidential elections (59% vs 41%).

In times where Slavic countries elect quasi-autocratic christian conservatives and eurosceptics, it's refreshing to see Slovakia elect a woman that advocates for European federalism, the independence of the legislative system, separation of church and state, government transparency laws, environmental policies and LGTB rights. Especially more so considering that his rival, Maroš Šefčovič, is also pretty moderate for Eastern European standards. Seems like Slovak society is the most progressive of the zapadoslavic trio.



Yes, overall there seems to be the sentiment that left wing parties have become the party of immigrants and college educated progressives, than the traditional working class citizen.

The result in Slovakia is mostly explained by the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak one year ago, which shook the country and brought to light the deep corruption of the governing party:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_J%C3%A1n_Kuciak

Maros Sefcovic formally ran as an independent, but he was supported by this very governing party that many Slovaks wanted to get rid of. It should also be noted that the presidency in Slovakia doesnt carry a ton of power, so this is more of a symbolic victory for liberalism in Eastern Europe.

This post was edited by Black XistenZ on Apr 1 2019 11:27am