The process of Europeanization changed during the years in Spain. In 1986 Spain entered in the European Community. Since then, Spain has been one of the most Europeanist countries. Therefore, when Spain became part of the European Community, the country had a strong pro-Europeanist feeling, according to Eurobarometer, as it reflected a 60% of the population [1] [2]. In Spain different reasons explain its entrance to the European Community. On the one hand, Spain had the need to be recognized by Europe, as democracy has just been established after Francisco Franco dictatorship. On the other hand, the main objectives of Spain were to achieve economic development, but also a social modernization, which could only been achieved by entering the European Community [3].
In 2007, after the financial crisis reached Spain, the percentage of pro European persons started to fall. Thus, during the five years of the economic crisis since 2007/2008, the Eurobarometer [4] shows how the trust in the EU increasingly fall in Spain, and the confidence of the Spanish citizens in the European Union fall for more than 50 points. Spain became one of the most eurosceptic countries among all European Union State Members, as it happened in pretty much European countries, where nationalist and eurosceptic characterised parties became stronger [5] [6].
The historical two-parties system, composed by the conservative Partido Popular and the democratic Partido Socialista Obrero Español, collapsed. In the 2000's, the moderate centre party Ciudadanos and leftist party Podemos became part of the political context, gaining electoral consensus, followed years later by far-right party Vox [7]. The new parties were the effect of the disaffection of most Spaniards towards politics and politicians, that increased for several reasons: firstly, corruption at all political levels, reaching the Royal Family too; secondly, recession intensified distrust of the population towards national government; thirdly, a phase of renovation of the autonomous regions which extended the distance between the national government and the regional ones [8].
Up to 2014 European elections, there are no Spanish parties present in the Eurosceptic groups at the European Parliament. In the 2019 Spanish general election, Vox became the first right-wing eurosceptic political party to win seats in the Congress of Deputies, obtaining 24 seats.
The process of Europeanization changed during the years in Spain. In 1986 Spain entered in the European Community. Since then, Spain has been one of the most Europeanist countries. Therefore, when Spain became part of the European Community, the country had a strong pro-Europeanist feeling, according to Eurobarometer, as it reflected a 60% of the population [1] [2]. In Spain different reasons explain its entrance to the European Community. On the one hand, Spain had the need to be recognized by Europe, as democracy has just been established after Francisco Franco dictatorship. On the other hand, the main objectives of Spain were to achieve economic development, but also a social modernization, which could only been achieved by entering the European Community [3].
In 2007, after the financial crisis reached Spain, the percentage of pro European persons started to fall. Thus, during the five years of the economic crisis since 2007/2008, the Eurobarometer [4] shows how the trust in the EU increasingly fall in Spain, and the confidence of the Spanish citizens in the European Union fall for more than 50 points. Spain became one of the most eurosceptic countries among all European Union State Members, as it happened in pretty much European countries, where nationalist and eurosceptic characterised parties became stronger [5] [6].
The historical two-parties system, composed by the conservative Partido Popular and the democratic Partido Socialista Obrero Español, collapsed. In the 2000's, the moderate centre party Ciudadanos and leftist party Podemos became part of the political context, gaining electoral consensus, followed years later by far-right party Vox [7]. The new parties were the effect of the disaffection of most Spaniards towards politics and politicians, that increased for several reasons: firstly, corruption at all political levels, reaching the Royal Family too; secondly, recession intensified distrust of the population towards national government; thirdly, a phase of renovation of the autonomous regions which extended the distance between the national government and the regional ones [8].
Up to 2014 European elections, there are no Spanish parties present in the Eurosceptic groups at the European Parliament. In the 2019 Spanish general election, Vox became the first right-wing eurosceptic political party to win seats in the Congress of Deputies, obtaining 24 seats.