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Ex-Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson joins Spain’s anti-amnesty protests

As a sign of the current political chaos in Spain, American right-wing TV personality and conspiracy theorist Tucker Carlson appeared in Madrid alongside far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal at the capital's latest anti-amnesty protests.

Published: 14 November 2023 10:24 CET
Ex-Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson joins Spain's anti-amnesty protests
"I love Spain and they are trying to steal your country," Tucker Carlson has said of Sánchez's controversial amnesty deal. (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA / AFP)

Controversial former Fox News presenter Tucker Carlson made a surprise appearance in Madrid on Monday night as he joined far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal at a protest against caretaker Socialist (PSOE) Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s amnesty deal with Catalan separatists.

In what was the 11th consecutive day of protests against the PSOE deal with Junts per Catalunya, which includes a legal amnesty for those involved in the failed 2017 independence bid, Abascal attended the demonstration outside the PSOE headquarters on Ferraz Street in Madrid, along with Carlson.

IN IMAGES: Thousands of Spaniards rally against amnesty for Catalan rebels

Known for his right-wing conspiratorial style, most notably Covid-19 scepticism and his role in promoting the 2020 electoral fraud conspiracy, Carlson at one time had the highest-rated TV show on American television.

Time magazine said in 2021 that he “may be the most powerful conservative in America.” A long-time supporter of Donald Trump, he was fired from Fox in April of this year.

Since leaving Fox Carslon has begun working independently and interviewed international political leaders. In September he travelled to Buenos Aires to meet Javier Milei, a Presidential candidate in Argentina characterised by some as extreme right. According to Vox sources speaking to El Confidencial, he will interview Abascal this Tuesday.

Carlson posted a picture of him standing next to Abascal at the protest.

In Madrid, Carlson admitted his unfamiliarity with Spanish politics yet still felt confident enough to give his opinion on the amnesty: “I love Spain and they are trying to steal your country. That’s not how a democracy should work,” he said.

“You can’t give an amnesty just for people to vote for you. You have to have the rule of law. It’s very difficult to understand what’s going on in Spain if you’re not here. Your policy is complicated for an American. I want to understand it and try to explain it. If you are not Spanish, there are parts of Spain that are complicated for a foreigner.”

READ ALSO: Spain’s amnesty dilemma – the ‘end of democracy’ or logical next step?

Despite something of a language barrier, politically speaking Carlson and Abascal’s Vox speak much of the same language.

Carlson, like Vox, has expressed anti-immigrant and anti-Islam sentiment, stoked fear about demographic replacement, promoted conspiracy theories, and is seen as an ‘anti-woke’ voice who successfully injects far-right or extremist rhetoric into mainstream political discourse.

Carlson has maintained a huge following despite being fired by Fox, boasting 10.6 million followers on Twitter/X, and his appearance at the protest and sudden interest Spanish politics will likely increase awareness of the amnesty deal and Spain in right-wing social media spheres around the world.

Carlson told press at the protest that the anti-amnesty demonstrations are “not getting the coverage it deserves… we thought it deserved more coverage than it’s getting.”

Over the last 11 days, thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets in order to protest against the PSOE-Junts amnesty deal. The Spanish right has described Sánchez as a traitor and that the amnesty deal represents a step on the road to dictatorship.

The investiture vote for Sánchez’s re-election will begin with the debate on Wednesday 14th. The vote is scheduled for Thursday 15th in the Spanish Congress.

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POLITICS

‘Pedro stay!’: Thousands of Spanish PM’s supporters take to the streets

Thousands of supporters of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez rallied at the headquarters of his Socialist party imploring him not to step down over a graft investigation against his wife.

Published: 27 April 2024 15:50 CEST
'Pedro stay!': Thousands of Spanish PM's supporters take to the streets

The 52-year-old, who has been in office since 2018, stunned Spain on Wednesday when he put his resignation on the line after a Madrid court opened a preliminary investigation into suspected influence peddling and corruption against his spouse Begona Gomez.

Sanchez said he would suspend all public duties until he announces his decision on Monday. The normally hyperactive premier has since remained out of sight and silent.

“I need to stop and think whether I should continue to head the government or whether I should give up this honour,” he wrote in a four-page letter posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Supporters on Saturday held up placards saying “Spain needs you”, “Pedro don’t abandon us’, and shouted slogans such as “Pedro leader”.

“I hope that Sanchez will say on Monday that he will stay,” said Sara Domínguez, a consultant in her 30’s, adding that his government had “taken good steps for women, the LGBT community and minorities”.

Jose María Diez, a 44-year-old government official who came from Valladolid in northern Spain to express his support, said there was a real possibility that the far-right could take power if Sanchez quit.

“This will mean a step backwards for our rights and liberties,” he warned.

Inside the party headquarters, there were similar passionate appeals.

‘Pedro stay’

“Pedro stay. We are together and together we can … take the country forward, Spain can’t step back,” said Budget Minister Maria Jesus Montero, the government number two.

“Today all democrats, all progressives, are summoned to Madrid against a pack whose only aim is to overthrow a democratic and legitimate government,” said Felix Bolanos, Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations.

At one point, Socialist leaders took to the streets to thank those gathered. “They won’t succeed,” government spokeswoman Pilar Alegria told the crowd.

The court opened the investigation into Sanchez’s wife in response to a complaint from anti-corruption pressure group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands), whose leader is linked to the far right.

The group, which has presented a litany of unsuccessful lawsuits against politicians in the past, said on Wednesday its complaint was based on media reports and could not vouch for their veracity.

While the court did not give details of the case, online news site El Confidencial said it focused on links Gomez had to Spanish tourism group Globalia when carrier Air Europa was in talks with the government to secure a huge bailout.

The airline sought the bailout after it was badly hit by plunging paseenger numbers during the Covid-19 crisis.

At the time, Gomez was running IE Africa Centre, a foundation linked to Madrid’s Instituto de Empresa (IE) business school, which had signed a sponsorship agreement with Globalia in 2020.

Spain’s public prosecutors office on Thursday requested the dismissal of the investigation, which Sanchez said was part of a campaign of “harassment” against him and his wife waged by “media heavily influenced by the right and far right”.

If Sanchez decides to remain in office, he could choose to file a confidence motion in parliament to show that he and his minority government are still supported by a majority of lawmakers.

If he resigns, an early election could be called from July — a year after the last one — with or without Sanchez at the helm of the Socialist party.

The right-wing opposition has accused the prime minister of being irresponsible for putting the country on hold while he mulls his decision.

“It’s very clear to us that this is all a tactic… We know Pedro Sanchez and things with him always turn out like a soap opera,” Cuca Gamarra, the number two of the main opposition conservative Popular Party, said on Friday.

“He is making us all wait and the country is at a standstill,” she added.

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