Pedro Sánchez's strategy against Brussels splits his own voters

Sánchez vs Brussels: the applause and the bill

What has Pedro Sánchez done this time? The question comes up every time Spain's prime minister locks horns with Brussels, and the answer is always the same: it depends on who you ask. The latest round of the clash has once again sparked a divide between those who see a leader finally standing up to the European Union and those bracing for the bill in the markets.

Firmness that wins votes

For part of the political spectrum, Sánchez embodies the Spain that refuses to kneel before EU institutions. The details of the dispute don't matter: what gets celebrated is the attitude. In that universe, every gesture of defiance translates into ballots. Some even put a number on it: 100,000 extra votes for the prime minister, as if scoring a point on the scoreboard.

The strategy makes political sense. After years of internal tensions, a foreign enemy unifies and mobilizes. Brussels is the perfect enemy: distant, powerful and unloved in certain quarters.

The other column: the bill

The opposite reading is less poetic. The prime minister's swagger translates into a "Spain down" chant that gets paid for in international image, investment and credibility. Critics point out something that seems obvious in any negotiation: you can be firm without being rude, and courtesy is not a sign of weakness.

There is also an uncomfortable suspicion: that the snub is pure theatre. In front of the cameras, Sánchez flaunts his fighting spirit; away from the spotlight, the firmness gets negotiated behind closed doors. If so, the strategy pays off twice: the applause stays at home and the cost is kept off camera.

In the end, the episode has achieved the essentials: the convinced remain convinced and the sceptics keep their calculators out. The only certainty is that the next chapter will be titled the same. And once again, we will all feign surprise.