22 years after Aznar: Spain's economic obsession that won't fade
2.5 million immigrants under Aznar, another 2.5 under Zapatero and 5 million more projected under Sánchez: the legacy in figures of an obsession that refuses to die.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Aznar, 22 years on: the obsession that won't fade and the numbers that still weigh
More than two decades have passed since José María Aznar left Moncloa. His record is still the yardstick for many, both for those who long for it and those who loathe it. The paradox is that the data provide ammunition for both sides.
The immigration figures that break the narrative
A look at the immigration data reveals something uncomfortable: during Aznar's government (1996-2004), 2.5 million immigrants entered Spain. Under Zapatero, another 2.5 million, this time during a recession and with record unemployment. Rajoy stabilized and even reduced the figures. Sánchez, according to projections, could end 2026 with 5 million additional arrivals, not counting the 2.5 million expected under the grandchildren law (a Spanish law granting citizenship to grandchildren of Spanish exiles). The net result would exceed 7 million since 2018.
The legacy of EU funds: infrastructure vs. R&D
Another recurring criticism of Aznarism is the use of European funds. While countries like Estonia, Slovenia or Poland bet on modernizing their productive fabric, Spain invested most of the money in pharaonic public works. Some argue that was the last chance to make the leap to development, and that it was wasted.
The mirage of political nostalgia
The fixation on Aznar is not a new phenomenon. As with Franco or figures from the 19th century, each generation seeks a villain or a hero in the past. The difference is that Aznar keeps generating concrete figures to fuel the debate.
With these numbers on the table, the uncomfortable question is: will we keep measuring economic policy with the thermometer of a president who left 22 years ago?
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More than two decades have passed since José María Aznar left Moncloa. His record is still the yardstick for many, both for those who long for it and those who loathe it. The paradox is that the data provide ammunition for both sides.
The immigration figures that break the narrative
A look at the immigration data reveals something uncomfortable: during Aznar's government (1996-2004), 2.5 million immigrants entered Spain. Under Zapatero, another 2.5 million, this time during a recession and with record unemployment. Rajoy stabilized and even reduced the figures. Sánchez, according to projections, could end 2026 with 5 million additional arrivals, not counting the 2.5 million expected under the grandchildren law (a Spanish law granting citizenship to grandchildren of Spanish exiles). The net result would exceed 7 million since 2018.
The legacy of EU funds: infrastructure vs. R&D
Another recurring criticism of Aznarism is the use of European funds. While countries like Estonia, Slovenia or Poland bet on modernizing their productive fabric, Spain invested most of the money in pharaonic public works. Some argue that was the last chance to make the leap to development, and that it was wasted.
The mirage of political nostalgia
The fixation on Aznar is not a new phenomenon. As with Franco or figures from the 19th century, each generation seeks a villain or a hero in the past. The difference is that Aznar keeps generating concrete figures to fuel the debate.
With these numbers on the table, the uncomfortable question is: will we keep measuring economic policy with the thermometer of a president who left 22 years ago?
Most shared
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (25 replies).
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