Spain's Garamendi faces anti-Spanish accusations over immigration stance

Garamendi defends immigration while being called anti-Spanish

Antonio Garamendi, president of Spain's CEOE (the country's main business confederation), has been branded 'anti-Spanish' in a viral video for his defence of immigration as a way to fill job vacancies. The business leader's reaction, visibly tense, has peine the debate over national identity in the context of an economy that needs foreign labour.

CEOE backs immigration as a labour market solution

Garamendi has repeatedly stressed the need to regularise migrants and train foreign minors to become the country's next engineers. As reported by Europa Press and ABC, the head of the employers' association argues that without immigration, vacant positions will go unfilled, especially in sectors such as hospitality and construction. Catalan business leaders, for their part, have called for a pact to promote immigration, saying they need it 'like the air we breathe', according to El País.

Criticism from economic patriots

The 'anti-Spanish' accusations are not isolated. Critics point out that the same business leaders calling for immigrants buy foreign-made vehicles, such as Toyota or Hyundai, instead of supporting domestic industry (Mercedes Vito, Volkswagen, Renault or Ford). The contradiction between the business rhetoric and their consumption choices has been labelled 'betrayal' by those advocating a more coherent economic patriotism.

A debate with little nuance

The circulating video shows Garamendi visibly uncomfortable when asked the question directly. While the CEOE insists that immigration is key to competitiveness, its detractors link it to precarious working conditions and loss of identity. What the debate fails to resolve is whether Spain's labour market can survive without foreign labour, or whether companies are willing to improve conditions to attract home-grown talent.

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The question that remains is whether the economic patriotism of some business leaders is mere posturing or whether they are genuinely willing to align their purchasing decisions with their rhetoric. Meanwhile, Garamendi remains in the eye of the storm.

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