“Spain isn’t a country for people who get bored,” is the takeaway expressed just hours after Catalonia’s elections—a region that remains central to the speaker, who has spent since 1990 serving in the European Parliament in Brussels and who has spent nearly twenty years as a spokesperson. He refrains from commenting on Catalonia’s results, suggesting it’s best not to mix rivals and a political landscape that remains unusually open. The schedule of Jaume Duch, the European Parliament’s spokesperson, has quickened in the run-up to the European elections on June 9.
The claim is made that these elections are the most consequential for Europe, though that sentiment often accompanies every electoral cycle. Is there really a lot at stake?
Yes. There is much more at stake than in prior years, because in these five years the two central pillars of European construction, peace and democracy, have faced challenges. The war in Ukraine represents a struggle against the European model of governance and against the European Union itself. We are witnessing a world where multilateralism retreats and fully democratic states become fewer in number. Consequently, these elections offer Europeans the chance to strengthen the European Union.
Is Russia the greatest adversary to the European project today?
Yes. And it frames the answer with its territorial aggression and the ongoing information warfare that continues to escalate, aimed at weakening European democratic systems year after year.
“Russia is the greatest enemy of the European project. Through its information wars it seeks to undermine it.”
Are those wars verifiable as having their origin in Russia?
It is neither a secret nor new. For years there have been mentions of bot factories in Saint Petersburg. The phenomenon has evolved. Our protection systems are much stronger now. Still, vigilance is necessary.
Will the future of the European project be guaranteed, or could external adversaries and skeptics derail it?
What must be achieved collectively is for the project to remain effective. The worst outcome would be citizens failing to see the added value, which is substantial and highly evident at present. People recognize that the EU was extremely useful during the pandemic, and for those closest to Russia, the EU acts as a major shield. The aim is to maintain that efficiency. That is what these elections are about. Yet a hopeful note remains: in these five years the European Parliament has performed well and has driven solutions forward.
The polls show broad support, but they also reveal rising support for those who distrust institutions, namely the far right. How does that fit into the picture?
The far right grows in some countries and not in others, often due to national rather than European dynamics. In recent years their anti-EU rhetoric has softened because many voters do not favor proposals that imply exiting the Union. Brexit acted like a kind of vaccine that appears to be working well. There is no country or majority now seeking to leave the EU. Duch has many years behind him: in 2014 there was talk of a surge in far-right sentiment that did not materialize in 2019, and the same could happen again in 2024.
Is the fragmentation of the European Parliament positive?
It is a parliament where coalitions and consensus-building are the driving forces. It becomes more difficult with more groups, yet majorities are always found. In short, this is not a body of constant confrontation but of broadening majorities, which strengthens the parliament when negotiating with the Council or the European Commission.
There has been attention in recent years to protected minors and concordance laws. Is it appropriate for EU institutions to amplify local policies?
That reflection is natural in Spain, where national and European politics are increasingly intertwined. It is logical for this to occur, and it does not have to be negative. In Spain, public trust in European institutions remains high, supporting the idea that local matters often echo in European policy.
Can European institutions halt or modify a rule like the concordance laws in Valencia and other communities, or do these fall outside their remit?
That is a question for the European Commission. Until the exact content of those laws is known, it is difficult to determine whether there would be grounds for intervention.
Turning to the Mediterranean corridor, recent weeks have seen controversy. Is it guaranteed, and is funding secure?
This is an area where the Parliament has played a constructive role. The Parliament must ensure the resources for the European Union to finance large, useful infrastructure projects like the corridor, and this represents a positive example of intervention.
Does the stigma of the European institutions as a bloated space of staff and money have any real basis?
It is an unfounded stereotype, a cliché used by euro-skeptics that does not reflect reality. When comparing staff numbers to the EU budget and the scope of its competences, it is striking how much can be achieved with fewer employees than some large city administrations.
“Disinformation tends to occupy the spaces left by information, so promoting high-quality information is crucial.”
Are the steps taken against disinformation enough, and will they have an effect?
Dealing with disinformation requires tackling many levers simultaneously. Legislation is one piece of it. In this legislative term, laws were passed to help media outlets perform their work freely and with quality. Yet much more is needed, including efforts to raise awareness among younger generations.
These European elections in Spain are notable for being called independently, without another vote. Does that worry observers?
Polls point to higher turnout in most member states, and the expectation is that Spain will reflect that trend as well. These elections are very important, and the same motivations that drive a citizen to vote in a national or regional election apply, if not more so, to the European elections.
Do you think there will be fatigue after so many elections in a short period?
No one can afford to grow tired of democracy when millions yearn to vote freely and cannot. Those who can exercise this right should recognize the privilege and act accordingly.