Pedro Sánchez's third government. Progress in the consolidation of Spanish democracy

Abstract

Introduction: In November 2023, Pedro Sánchez was re-elected as President of the Spanish Government thanks to agreements with seven political parties. His administration sought to face cyclical challenges and their impact on Spanish democracy. Among the main measures analyzed was the approval of the Amnesty Law, which benefited those involved in the 2017 independence referendum, as well as the negotiations with the Partido Popular for the renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ). To understand the current state of democracy in Spain, the theoretical approaches of Giovanni Sartori, Joseph Schumpeter, Robert Dahl, Jorge Carpizo and Leonardo Morlino were taken into account.
Development: Carpizo established that democracy was based on dialogue and political negotiation, which ensured the participation of minority actors in decision-making. Morlino, for his part, addressed the importance of accountability and its role in government oversight. In the Spanish context, the lack of a parliamentary majority consolidated the need for a coalition government, as Kaare Strom explained. Sánchez's investiture required pacts with Catalan parties, who demanded the Amnesty Law. This agreement reflected the influence of the independence conflict on Spanish politics and represented an effort to integrate these actors into democratic life. In addition, the renewal of the CGPJ was crucial to strengthen accountability and guarantee the balance of powers.
Conclusion: The measures promoted by Sánchez consolidated Spanish democracy by facilitating the participation of minority parties and re-establishing dialogue between institutions. However, although these agreements represented progress, they did not resolve all of the country's problems. The implementation of these reforms laid the foundations for strengthening the democratic system, promoting inclusion and political stability.