Spain's PSOE under fire over its left-wing alliances and ETA links
An analysis of the PSOE's political pacts and the debate over ETA, capitalism and socialism, with data on falling purchasing power and housing prices.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The PSOE's pacts: between defending private enterprise and the ghost of ETA
An article in El Mundo on 14 March 2026 sparked a debate in which two obsessions of the right collided: the PSOE's (Spain's mainstream centre-left party) alliances with radical left parties and the presence of former ETA lawyers in its ranks. But the thread quickly drifted into a deeper discussion about capitalism, socialism and the role of the State. The underlying question: are the PSOE's pacts a betrayal of the nation or a democratic necessity?
The anti-capitalist front
Some participants focused their criticism on the PSOE's supposed hostility towards private enterprise. It was argued that socialism, in its various forms, has proven ruinous for the economy. Others, however, replied that private enterprise is not synonymous with unbridled capitalism, and that the only functional capitalism is the kind regulated by the State. Striking figures were mentioned: according to one participant, workers' purchasing power has fallen by 90% compared with the era of fascism, and housing prices in Madrid have multiplied tenfold in 70 years. These numbers, though controversial, reflect a perception of economic decline that fuels the anti-establishment discourse.
The shadow of ETA
The name of ETA comes up repeatedly. It was recalled that Chiqui Benegas, father of the guitarist from La Oreja de Van Gogh, and Peces Barba, High Commissioner for the victims of the 11M Madrid bombings, were defence lawyers for ETA members in the final years of Francoism. For critics, this shows that the PSOE has an uncomfortable past with terrorism. The label "Psoeta" (PSOE + ETA) sums up this accusation. However, the party's defenders consider these isolated cases and maintain that the PSOE has been a staunch defender of democracy.
The debate reached no consensus, but it made clear that distrust of the PSOE is fed both by its political alliances and by nostalgia for a past in which the State intervened more in the economy. The open question is whether "Psoeta" is a caricature or contains a grain of truth.
Related debates in the forum
An article in El Mundo on 14 March 2026 sparked a debate in which two obsessions of the right collided: the PSOE's (Spain's mainstream centre-left party) alliances with radical left parties and the presence of former ETA lawyers in its ranks. But the thread quickly drifted into a deeper discussion about capitalism, socialism and the role of the State. The underlying question: are the PSOE's pacts a betrayal of the nation or a democratic necessity?
The anti-capitalist front
Some participants focused their criticism on the PSOE's supposed hostility towards private enterprise. It was argued that socialism, in its various forms, has proven ruinous for the economy. Others, however, replied that private enterprise is not synonymous with unbridled capitalism, and that the only functional capitalism is the kind regulated by the State. Striking figures were mentioned: according to one participant, workers' purchasing power has fallen by 90% compared with the era of fascism, and housing prices in Madrid have multiplied tenfold in 70 years. These numbers, though controversial, reflect a perception of economic decline that fuels the anti-establishment discourse.
The shadow of ETA
The name of ETA comes up repeatedly. It was recalled that Chiqui Benegas, father of the guitarist from La Oreja de Van Gogh, and Peces Barba, High Commissioner for the victims of the 11M Madrid bombings, were defence lawyers for ETA members in the final years of Francoism. For critics, this shows that the PSOE has an uncomfortable past with terrorism. The label "Psoeta" (PSOE + ETA) sums up this accusation. However, the party's defenders consider these isolated cases and maintain that the PSOE has been a staunch defender of democracy.
The debate reached no consensus, but it made clear that distrust of the PSOE is fed both by its political alliances and by nostalgia for a past in which the State intervened more in the economy. The open question is whether "Psoeta" is a caricature or contains a grain of truth.
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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 (39 replies).
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