Elections thirty years on

The elections in Spain and Portugal: reconsidering the EU’s objectives and thoughts on a democratic regeneration of Europe.

The 12th of June marked the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Accession to the European Community by Spanish and Portuguese authorities. Thirty years on and so far no Eurosceptic political forces have taken root in these two nations, unlike in most of the other founding member states. Nonetheless, pro-European enthusiasm has faded in the wake of five years of severe economic crisis.

In the last quarter of this year, Europe will be training its gaze on the Iberian Peninsula once again. Elections are scheduled to take place in Portugal on 4 October and in November or December in Spain. Moreover, on 27 September, Catalonia will be casting ballots to elect its new regional parliament, a vote that may have a strong bearing on its future. These electoral appointments will take place against a difficult European backdrop, and there’s a high probability of a change of heart as citizens call out for new policies.

In fact, these elections could stand as a milestone marking the end of the economic crisis in the southern part of the EU and set the stage for a new post-crisis political landscape in the area.

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