Spain's Sánchez Defies European Trend with Plan to Legalise 500,000 Migrants
In a bold move that sets him apart from many of his European counterparts, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced plans to regularise the status of approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants and asylum seekers in Spain. This initiative comes at a time when anti-immigration policies are gaining traction across the continent, marking a significant departure from the prevailing political winds.
A Continent Shifting Rightwards on Migration
Across Europe, mainstream political parties have increasingly adopted the rhetoric of far-right groups in response to growing public concern over immigration. Leaders such as Keir Starmer in the UK have warned of the risks of becoming an "island of strangers," while German politicians like Friedrich Merz and Olaf Scholz have advocated for large-scale deportations. This rightward drift reflects the electoral success of far-right parties, which have used immigration as a key issue to challenge established political rivals.
Against this backdrop, Sánchez's announcement represents a striking counter-narrative. The Spanish Prime Minister has openly questioned the direction of European migration discourse, asking in a recent social media video, "When did recognising rights become something radical? When did empathy become something exceptional?"
The Spanish Regularisation Plan
The Spanish government's time-limited regularisation scheme will offer successful applicants a legal residence permit with an initial validity of one year. This initiative follows years of campaigning by civil society groups and comes at the behest of the leftwing Podemos party, which forms part of Sánchez's governing coalition.
Sánchez has consistently framed migration as both a moral imperative and an economic necessity for Spain. Speaking to parliament earlier this year, he argued that the country must choose between being "an open and prosperous country or a closed-off, poor country." He has repeatedly emphasised that migration contributes significantly to Spain's economy, representing approximately 25% of per capita GDP and 10% of social security revenues, while accounting for only 1% of public expenditure.
Political Calculations and Domestic Challenges
The timing of this announcement is particularly significant given Sánchez's current political challenges. Recent opinion polls show the far-right Vox party gaining ground with nearly 18% of the vote, while the Prime Minister's inner circle faces corruption allegations that they strongly deny. Additionally, his party has been criticised for its handling of sexual assault cases.
Political analysts suggest that the regularisation decree allows Sánchez to differentiate himself from opponents and reinforce his commitment to leftwing principles. According to Pablo Simón, a professor at Madrid's Carlos III University, "Right now, Sánchez is in a very difficult position internally, but he also knows the only way he can survive is by shifting to more leftwing positions that will allow him to absorb the electorate of the smaller parties."
Broader Implications and Human Impact
Beyond the political calculations, the regularisation scheme will have profound effects on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. For migrants like Edith Espínola, who has campaigned for regularisation for years, the plan offers hope and recognition of basic rights. "It gives you the opportunity to study, to be able to work with dignity and to be able to report when you're being exploited without having to be scared about making a complaint," she explained. "It means that you can break through that invisible border."
Sánchez's approach to migration, combined with his outspoken criticism of Israel's war in Gaza and his firm stance on defence spending, positions him as one of the few European leaders charting an independent course in response to the rise of the far right. While his conservative opponents in the People's party argue that the plan will overwhelm public services, and Vox continues to peddle narratives of "invasion," Sánchez remains committed to his vision of Spain as an open, prosperous nation built on principles of empathy and economic pragmatism.
