Spanish party calls for NATO referendum on country’s membership

The Spanish left-wing party Podemos has called for a referendum on Spain’s continued membership in NATO, a party representative said at a press conference.

Pablo Fernández, speaking on behalf of Podemos, criticised US and Israeli military operations in Iran and urged the Spanish government to take action to prevent the country’s involvement in the war, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Fernández said that Podemos continues to press the government to close American military bases in Spain, withdraw from NATO, or at least hold a referendum so that the decision on NATO membership is made by Spanish society. He emphasised that Spain’s armed forces should not be involved in the war, either in offensive operations or in defending NATO facilities in the Mediterranean.

Spain joined NATO in 1982 and held a referendum on permanent membership in 1986, as promised by the Socialist Party if it came to power. At that vote, 56.85% of participants supported continued membership, while 43.15% opposed it, with a turnout of 59.4%.

By Sabina Mammadli